With AP Photos.Fred VanVleet’s jumper from the left corner with 1.1 seconds remaining in overtime lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 121-119 victory over the Detroit Pistons. He then completed the “and-one” from the line to give him his 39th point of the night.
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The Pelicans have won eight straight games with three of them coming last week. DeRozan then fired in a shot from the left side with the shot clock running and 18.2 seconds remaining.
The Raptors’ uptempo offence has eschewed long two-pointers and isolation plays in favour of ball movement and long-range bombs.
When Masai Ujiri cryptically said the Toronto Raptors needed a “culture reset” after they were unceremoniously bounced from last year’s National Basketball Association playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers, speculation abounded as to what exactly the team president meant by that phrase. “That’s the most important thing – approaching every game as if it’s a playoff game”. Jonas Valanciunas was another double-double man. DeRozan’s 42 points and 6 dimes were masterful. Griffin led Detroit with 31. Detroit – or Charlotte, or anyone else below the playoff cutoff – couldn’t catch Toronto even by winning out as the Raptors lost out.
“We played well at times but put together such a poor defensive third quarter, that’s what did it to us”, Bullock said.
The Detroit Pistons host the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena tonight in the first game of a two-game homestand.
BC-BKN-Raptors-Ibaka Ejected, 82Toronto’s Ibaka ejected in 2nd quarter at DetroitEds: APNewsNow.
The game took a dramatic turn in the third quarter, as the Raptors outscored the Pistons 40-25.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo led the scoring on the night with 30 points, but Houston’s greater offensive depth proved the difference. Powell’s re-emergence, however, was a welcome sight. “I thought we just gave up big plays, an offensive rebound off a three or a couple and-one threes”, Griffin said. I mean, really struggling.
Ditto for DeRozan, whose will could not be denied.
“He has to trust his teammates, ” said Casey of DeRozan.
The Toronto Raptors have a reputation and it’s one that the players and organization would prefer to rid themselves of.
“It made me feel, you know, pretty damn good, honestly”, DeRozan said about Love’s essay.
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“Overall, we just need to understand that no matter who we play against, teams that aren’t going to the playoffs, whoever we play against, we’re going to get their best shot”. I don’t think we’re a finished product.
