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Detroit built a 56-43 halftime lead — its largest of the season — by holding the Raptors to 28.6% shooting, including 2 for 9 for VanVleet. The Pistons also had a 22-7 edge in bench points for the half, including 15 from Lyles.
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Detroit extended the lead to as many as 18, but had several key players in foul trouble. The Raptors got within 69-60, but their continued offensive struggles meant they trailed 83-66 at the end of the third.
Jackson started the fourth with a 3-pointer, giving the Pistons their first 20-point lead of the season, but VanVleet’s 3-pointer made it 91-83 with 3:39 to play. Cunningham put the margin back to 11 with a 3-pointer with 2:41 left, and Detroit clinched the game from the free throw line.
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Raptors: Toronto was starting a five-game road trip and a stretch of eight of 10 games away from home. … VanVleet came into the game having made at least four 3-pointers in a franchise-record nine straight games, the longest streak in the NBA this season. He missed eight of his first 11 attempts, but extended the record with a 3-pointer with 7:06 to play.
Pistons: Detroit has won five of its last eight, but all three losses have been by at least 29 points, including a 133-87 defeat by the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.
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Raptors: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.
Pistons: Host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in a game originally scheduled for Jan. 12.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
