The Detroit Pistons continued their impressive run in the Emirates NBA Cup by narrowly defeating the Toronto Raptors 99-95 at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night. This victory marked the Pistons' second consecutive win, bringing them to 2-0 in the tournament and improving their overall record to 6-8. The Raptors, on the other hand, faced their sixth consecutive loss, plunging their season record to 2-11.
Malik Beasley led the Pistons with 20 points, including seven during a dynamic fourth quarter where his team needed it most. Cade Cunningham had a noteworthy performance as well, contributing 15 points alongside 10 assists and six rebounds, albeit with struggles on his shooting stroke, hitting just 6 of 21 attempts.
The game featured several lead changes, showcasing the intense competition between both teams. Toronto made their strongest push during the third quarter, where they dominated scoring. Despite their efforts, Detroit made a staggering comeback, capitalizing on the Raptors' cold shooting to outscore them 22-7 over the last few minutes of the game.
Pistons rookie Ron Holland had another solid outing. Though he missed all six of his three-point attempts, he finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, displaying hustle on both ends. His defensive effort against Raptors star RJ Barrett, who shot 6 of 17, proved pivotal for Detroit’s success.
Jakob Poeltl shone for Toronto, accumulating 25 points and 19 rebounds, easily his best game of the season, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Pistons’ sharp late-game execution. Gradey Dick had another challenging night, scoring just five points on 4-of-17 shooting; his inability to connect on two key three-point attempts late was detrimental to Toronto's chances.
The Raptors’ shooting woes were evident once again, as they finished the game hitting only 8 of 31 from deep, matching the Pistons’ own struggles of 8-for-38 from three-point range. With their inability to secure wins, several young players on Toronto’s bench, like Dick and Barrett, are under pressure as they seek to establish their place on the squad.
Now, eyes turn to Toronto as they face the Boston Celtics next as they try to shift the momentum to avoid sinking even lower this season. Understandably, fans are growing concerned, especially with the prospect of finishing the season at the bottom of the standings, which could influence the team’s prospects for upcoming drafts.
On the flip side, the Pistons are basking in the thrill of victory, gauged against their previous season’s struggles, and are eager to maintain their winning streak as they gear up for their next match against Washington. The Pistons’ newfound confidence has sparked excitement, and this team looks poised to break out from its previous failures.
It’s still early days, but the upcoming games will reveal whether this momentum can be sustained — both for the Pistons, who seem to be on the rise, and the Raptors, who are desperately searching for answers.
