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DeRozan leads Raptors past Pistons

Dec 20, 2012 - 3:54 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and the Toronto Raptors held off the Detroit Pistons, 97-91, on Wednesday.

Alan Anderson added 16 points for the Raptors, who have won four in a row for the first time since Nov. 17-24, 2010. Jonas Valanciunas and Ed Davis tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively.

"There are a million different ways to win or lose a game and right now we're finding ways to win," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

Greg Monroe had a career-high 35 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who fell to 2-13 on the road this season. Rodney Stuckey donated 13 points.

The first half, which ended in a 49-49 tie, featured four lead changes and nine ties. DeRozan and Monroe led the way with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Holding a 61-60 lead with 5:55 remaining in the third quarter, Toronto put together a 6-0 spurt. DeRozan's jumper, Jose Calderon's 3-pointer and Amir Johnson's free throw made it a 67-60 game.

Stuckey recorded a three-point play with 45.7 seconds left to get Detroit within two, 73-71, heading to the fourth.

The Raptors scored the first five points of the fourth period to build a 78-71 margin.

Anderson made back-to-back 3-pointers to extend Toronto's margin to 88-77 with 6:25 to play.

However, the Pistons responded with a 10-3 run to cut the gap to 91-87 on Stuckey's free throw with 1:01 remaining.

After DeRozan missed a shot from beyond the arc, Johnson stole the ball from Stuckey. Johnson won the ensuing jump ball to give the ball back to Toronto.

Anderson made two free throws to make it 93-87 with 25.5 seconds left. Johnson added two more foul free throws after Charlie Villanueva missed a 3-pointer.

It remained a two-possession game the rest of the way.

"We're trying to find what we need to do to get back on track," Monroe said. "I don't think we've fallen totally off track. The way we've been losing, it hasn't been horrible games. We're right there. Just a little bit more we have to do to finish games and pay attention to detail coming down the stretch."

Game Notes

The Pistons had won three straight against the Raptors ... Toronto went 10- of-29 from beyond the arc and went 17-of-22 from the foul line ... Stuckey returned to the lineup after missing Monday's loss to the Clippers ... The Pistons have lost six in a row ... Calderon ended with seven points and 17 assists.