Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Tayshaun Prince scored a season-high 27 points
and grabbed nine rebounds, as the Detroit Pistons edged Toronto, 100-93, in
a battle of undefeated teams.
The Pistons played without new acquisition Allen Iverson, who did not make his
debut because Chauncey Billups had not yet undergone his physical. It is a
requirement to complete Monday's blockbuster trade between Detroit and Denver,
which saw the Pistons send Billups, forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh
Samb to the Nuggets for Iverson.
Richard Hamilton added 22 points, while Rasheed Wallace chipped in 11 points
and 12 boards for Detroit, which moved to 4-0 this season.
Chris Bosh finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds for Toronto, which had won
its first three games of the season. Jose Calderon had 24 points and eight
assists, and Andrea Bargnani chipped in 12 points off the bench for the
Raptors.
The game was decided in a close fourth quarter. Detroit held a slight edge
The game was decided in a close fourth quarter. Detroit held a slight edge
throughout the stanza, but never more than four points until Wallace canned a
jumper with 2:15 remaining that put the Pistons up 92-86.
Calderon quickly answered with a jumper of his own, but after the teams missed
on their next possessions, Prince grabbed a rebound and made a basket with
1:05 left to increase Detroit's lead to 94-88.
Calderon made a pair of free throws with half a minute remaining to get
Toronto back within four points, but Hamilton was 6-for-6 from the free throw
line down the stretch to seal the win for the Pistons.
Toronto emerged out of the first quarter with a 23-20 lead, but Detroit surged
in the second stanza to take a substantial advantage. After Bargnani drained a
three-pointer with about 7 1/2 minutes left in the half to draw within 33-32,
the Pistons went on a 17-6 run.
Prince rattled off six consecutive Detroit points during the run, and Hamilton
capped it with a jumper to give the Pistons a 50-38 lead with 1:40 left in the
second.
second.
Only a three-point play from Kris Humphries with under half a minute remaining
drew the Raptors within 54-46 at the break.
Detroit built its lead back up to double digits in the third, as back-to-back
baskets from Prince and Rodney Stuckey gave the Pistons a 63-48 lead less than
four minutes into the new half.
Prince's jumper with 1:23 left in the third gave Detroit a 76-66 advantage,
but Toronto got right back in the game with a 9-0 run.
Bosh followed a Jermaine O'Neal basket with a three-point play to end the
third, and Bosh opened the fourth quarter with a dunk. Will Solomon's jumper
less than a minute in brought Toronto within 76-75.
Game Notes
Stuckey finished with 14 points and five assists...O'Neal had just eight
points...The game had 30 lead changes...Detroit is currently 2-0 on its three-
game road swing and closes it out Friday in New Jersey against the
Nets...Toronto begins a three-game road trip on Friday in Atlanta.
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