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Jennings leads Pistons over Raptors

Jan 13, 2015 - 3:28 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Brandon Jennings scored 34 points, handed out 10 assists and came up with the game-sealing steal in the final seconds as the Detroit Pistons stole a 114-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors Monday.

The Pistons trailed by 14 at one point and rallied behind Jennings and double- doubles from Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. Jodie Meeks and Jonas Jerebko both hit clutch shots down the stretch as Detroit improved to 9-1 since waiving Josh Smith.

Monroe finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Drummond added 10 and 14 for the Pistons, who forced 19 turnovers and won despite the Raptors making 54 percent of their shots.

Toronto had seven players score in double figures, with Jonas Valanciunas' career-high 31 points and 12 rebounds leading the way, but the Atlantic Division leaders fell for the fifth time in six games.

The Raptors had won 38 straight games at Air Canada Centre when leading after three quarters. Their previous loss coincidentally came against the Pistons on April 1, 2013.

They held a slim 83-82 lead entering a seesaw final frame that featured six lead changes and five ties.

Jerebko drained consecutive jumpers to give the Pistons a 109-106 lead with under two minutes to play, and Meeks connected from long range the next time down for a 112-108 advantage inside the final minute.

Kyle Lowry, who was held scoreless over the first three quarters but wound up with 10 points and 12 assists, answered with a corner 3-pointer, then had a chance for a go-ahead bucket with time winding down.

His floater over Monroe, however, hit the back of the rim, and after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made two free throws, Jennings was stripped by Lowry at midcourt before he had a chance to get a shot off.

The Raptors had trailed after the first quarter in nine of their previous 11 games, but there was no slow start in this one, as they connected on 15-of-24 (62.5 percent) from the floor in the opening 12 minutes.

Valanciunas and Terrence Ross outscored the Pistons by themselves, and their 24 combined points paved the way for a 32-20 advantage.

Toronto slowed down only slightly in the second quarter, but the Pistons kept countering and stayed within a dozen, 60-48, at halftime.

Detroit was still down by double-digits before Jennings spearheaded a comeback with 15 third-quarter points. His two free throws capped a 17-4 run and gave Detroit its first lead at 72-70 with under five minutes left in the frame.

Game Notes

Toronto had won the previous four meetings ... Detroit has won six straight on the road, one shy of matching the franchise record .... Valanciunas shot 14- of-15 from the floor ... Ross scored 10 of his 12 points in the first quarter ... Lowry committed seven turnovers.