TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors almost suffered another late-game collapse. But this time, they weathered the storm.
Fred VanVleet had a game-high 35 points and eight assists as the Toronto Raptors survived a late comeback effort from Detroit to take a 119-118 victory over the Pistons on Sunday. Detroit outscored Toronto 23-11 in the final 3:27 of the game after being down 13.
"I thought we hung tough. We played a very good team, they’ve got a lot of talent," said Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin, who worked the bench in place of head coach Nick Nurse.
"Even in the first half when we were up a point you can feel the tension in the building like we’re supposed to be up 20. This is the NBA, every win and every game is gonna be hard fought and tough and I thought our guys were resilient."
It was VanVleet's ninth 30-point game of the season, setting a career mark. His previous high was eight in 2021-22.
Pascal Siakam added 28 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, for Toronto (27-31). Scottie Barnes scored 20.
Jakob Poeltl had six points and five rebounds in 25 minutes of action in his first start since being traded to the Raptors on Thursday. He fouled out of the game with 2:32 remaining.
"I thought he got better as the game went on," VanVleet said of Poeltl. "He’s got a very high IQ and he's such a smart player, so definitely lucky to have that at the centre position."
Bojan Bogdanovic scored a team-high 33 points for Detroit (15-43). Alec Burks and Hamidou Diallo added 21 and 18 points, respectively, off the bench.
After the Raptors had their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday thanks to a Utah comeback, they held up late on Sunday to avoid back-to-back losses.
Siakam scored six of the Raptors' first eight points in the final frame to give Toronto a 92-78 edge 1:56 in.
But Detroit made a run as two Burks free throws with 33.1 seconds left made it a 116-110 game.
A Barnes turnover led to a Jaden Ivey three-pointer to trim the Pistons' deficit to three with 10.1 remaining. After two VanVleet free throws made it 118-113 with seven seconds on the clock, Bogdanovic cut it to three again with two free throws.
But Precious Achiuwa went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe afterwards to give the Raptors a four-point lead, good to keep Toronto ahead for the win despite another Ivey three with 0.1 left.
"You had two championship players right there that carried them home with Pascal and Freddie," Pistons head coach Dwane Casey said. "They were the difference in the game.
"They carried the team, they did a great job. We tried to double team but Pascal did a great job of going to work even before the double team could get there."
VanVleet had the hot hand early, scoring 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the opening quarter, including two early three-pointers that fuelled the Raptors' 8-2 run to take an 18-9 lead.
However, a late surge from the Pistons, led by Burks' 11 first-quarter points, helped Detroit close the frame only down 31-29.
"Probably a combination of a lot of things," VanVleet said of his performance. "Just staying locked in, keep working, getting my legs under me, finding ways to get the shots.
"Being able to get three catch-and-shoots right off the gate, I think that helps a lot. … It’s not always going to go my way, but gotta take advantage when I get the chance."
In the second, an Isaiah Stewart layup gave Detroit its first lead of the game with 2:44 left. Siakam drew a foul on Bogdanovic with two seconds left and gave Toronto a 53-52 halftime lead.
Following an early exchange of baskets and the lead, VanVleet hit a three-pointer and assisted on two other baskets in a 10-0 Raptors run that gave Toronto a 67-58 edge with 7:47 left in the third.
After the Pistons made it a four-point game, Chris Boucher got a three-point play and another VanVleet three-pointer restored the Raptors' 10-point lead. Toronto closed the frame up 84-77.
MISSING
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse was out Sunday due to personal reasons. Toronto guard Gary Trent Jr. was also ruled out with a left calf strain shortly before tip-off. Forward O.G. Anunoby missed his eighth straight game with a left wrist sprain.
UP NEXT
The Raptors host the Orlando Magic in the fourth of a five-game homestand Tuesday. The Magic lead the season series 2-1 against Toronto, winning back-to-back outings on Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 in Orlando the last time the two met.
The Pistons play the second of a three-game road trip against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2023.
Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press
