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Pistons can’t contain Siakam & Co. in 112-99 loss to Raptors

Raptors 112 Pistons 99
19861948_web1_191219-RDA-Raptors-beat-Pistons

Raptors 112 Pistons 99

DETROIT —The Pistons got two of their big pieces back, but it didn’t make much of a difference.

After being shorthanded for the last two games without Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin, the duo returned on Wednesday night. But the defense still was a concern.

The defending champion Toronto Raptors took the lead midway through the second quarter and didn’t give it up as they showcased their superstar Pascal Siakam in a 112-99 victory at Little Caesars Arena.

Drummond had 22 points and 18 rebounds, Derrick Rose added 16 points, five assists and four rebounds, and Griffin had 15 points and four assists for the Pistons, who have lost three of their last four games and fell to 11-17.

The Raptors (19-8) jumped to a double-digit lead and looked to be in control entering the fourth quarter with a 96-79 lead. The Pistons started the period with a 17-9 run and trimmed the lead to single digits for the first time since early in the third quarter.

Rose and Svi Mykhailiuk had six points each in the run and Drummond added five points, including an alley-oop from Bruce Brown (12 points). The Raptors answered with a jumper from Serge Ibaka (25 points and 13 rebounds) and a 3-pointer from Siakam (26 points) to stretch the lead back to 14 points with 1:58 remaining.

The Pistons started 6 of 7 from the field in the first quarter, with back-to-back baskets by Drummond and Griffin, for an 8-5 advantage. Kyle Lowry, who had a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, countered with a 3-pointer and Siakam made a jumper to take the lead.

The Raptors steamed ahead with a drive and a dunk from OG Anunoby (19 points) and Siakam added another 3-pointer during a 14-5 run. Griffin had back-to-back baskets, to get within 21-19.

The Raptors finished the quarter with a 3-pointer by Siakam with 1.3 seconds left and took a 30-29 lead.