Fred VanVleet tops 30 for ninth time, Raptors beat Pistons 119-118

TORONTO (AP)— Fred VanVleet scored 35 points, topping 30 for a career-bestninth time this season, and Pascal Siakam added 28 points as theToronto Raptors beat the Detroit Pistons 119-118 Sunday for theirfourth win in five games.

ScottieBarnes scored 20 points and Precious Achiuwa had 11 points and 11rebounds as Toronto won its second straight win over Detroit afterlosing the previous six meetings.

VanVleet andthe Raptors bounced back after blowing a 12-point lead in the finalfive minutes of Friday’s home loss to Utah.

“That hurt,”VanVleet. “Everyone was frustrated for sure, but the game goes on.We’ve got to stay focussed on the games in front of us and pilethem up as best as we can.”

Toronto is20-7 all-time when VanVleet scores 30 or more points. Siakam hasscored 25 or more in three straight games.

“It’scertainly a treat to have two guys out there who you can coach theteam through,” said Toronto assistant coach Adrian Griffin, who ledthe Raptors Sunday with head coach Nick Nurse away for personalreasons.

Detroit’sDwane Casey worked with both Siakam and VanVleet when he was headcoach in Toronto.

“They werethe difference in the game,” Casey said of Toronto’s duo. “Theycarried the team, they did a great job.”

BojanBogdanovic scored 33 points, Alec Burks had 21, and Hamidou Dialloand Jaden Ivey each had 18 for the Pistons. Detroit failed onceagain to win consecutive games for the second time this season.

Detroit beatSan Antonio in double overtime Friday in a matchup of two of theNBA’s worst teams. The Pistons haven’t won back-to-back games sincevictories at Denver and Utah on Nov. 22 and 23, following all 10wins since with defeats.

Ivey’s3-pointer with 10.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter cut it to116-113 before VanVleet answered with a pair of free throws.

Bogdanovichit two free throws, but Achiuwa made one of two at the line to putToronto up by four points with 4.4 seconds left. Ivey’s 3 at thebuzzer wasn’t enough for Detroit.

Pistonscenter Jalen Duren injured his right ankle in the second quarter,but returned to start the second half. The rookie teenager scored acareer-high 30 points Friday. The 19-year-old Duren finished withsix points in 21 minutes.

“He turned itpretty good,” Casey said. “Just trying to go up and down the floorand when they were attacking the rim, he just couldn’t pivot andmove. Hopefully it’s not something that’s long lasting.”

Torontoscored 14 points off 18 Detroit turnovers. The Raptors allowed aseason-low five points off their eight turnovers.

“We’ve justgot to be smarter with the ball, stronger with the ball,” Caseysaid. “A lot of our turnovers were self-inflicted, throwing it tonobody, throwing it to air.”

Raptorscenter Jakob Poeltl started for the first time in two games sincerejoining the team that drafted him. He took the spot of guard GaryTrent Jr., who sat because of a sore left calf.

Toronto helda 53-52 edge at halftime and took an 85-77 lead to the fourth.

HAYESSTRUGGLES AGAIN

Detroit’sKillian Hayes shot 1 for 10 and scored two points. He shot 1 for 11Friday.

“He’spressing a little bit,” Casey said. “I told him ‘Relax, have fun,play basketball.’ He’s overthinking things with his shooting.”

TIP-INS

Pistons:Stewart scored 16 points.. … Outscored Toronto 43-19 in benchpoints. … Detroit is 7-22 on the road, the worst mark in theEastern Conference.

Raptors:VanVleet had eight 30-point games in 2021-22. He has five suchgames since Jan. 1. … Poeltl fouled out in the fourth. He finishedwith six points and five rebounds in 25 minutes. … F O.G. Anunoby(sprained left wrist) missed his eighth straight game…. Torontosigned G/F Joe Wieskamp to a multi-year contract Saturday.

UPNEXT

Pistons:Visit Boston on Wednesday.

Raptors: HostOrlando on Tuesday.