‘Elite’ Cade Cunningham, Pistons strive to extend win streak in clash vs. Raptors
The Detroit Pistons have not lost to the Toronto Raptors in more than two years, and the visiting Pistons hope to keep it that way on Sunday afternoon .
The Pistons have won their seven past meetings with the Raptors, including 113-95 at Toronto on Feb. 11.
Toronto's most recent victory over Detroit was 142-113 at home on Nov. 19, 2023.
Toronto can take inspiration from its comeback 122-115 home victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday after dropping six of its previous eight games.
"It was a big-time win for us," said RJ Barrett, who scored 22 points. "We hit a little rough patch, and wins like that are what we have to have."
The Pistons are on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 126-110 at home on Friday. Before the winning streak, the Pistons had lost four straight.
"We were losing games in the stint, but coach (J.B. Bickerstaff) told us to stay together throughout all this," said Ronald Holland II, who scored 12 points in 17 minutes. "We had a lot of success throughout the season, so far.
"I mean, we weren't getting big-headed or anything, but every team goes through (losing streaks) in the NBA. So he was just telling us to stay together, to keep running the course and everything will be fine. We're back on track now, so hopefully we can stay rolling."
The victory over Memphis solidified the Pistons' lead in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors are in seventh place.
The Pistons had a huge game Friday from Jalen Duren, who has been dealing with a sore right knee. He had 30 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks to help the Pistons to their 48th victory of the season, their most since winning 59 in the 2007-08 season.
"I think we celebrate the small wins," Duren said. "The main focus is to keep succeeding, keep getting better as we move into the postseason. Staying healthy."
Cade Cunningham had 17 points, 15 assists, eight rebounds, and three steals for Detroit, as he displayed his development as a playmaker.
"He's elite at it," Bickerstaff said.
Cunningham scored 28 points against the Raptors last month. Duren did not play in that game in Toronto because he was serving a suspension for an altercation against the Charlotte Hornets.
Caris LeVert returned to the Pistons lineup after missing three games with an injured left wrist. He scored four points in 22:57 as a reserve.
The Raptors rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Suns, who had won four in a row. Brandon Ingram scored 36 points for Toronto.
The Raptors showed more resolve than in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. They avoided the late-game collapses that have plagued them and finished the win over the Suns on a 27-10 run.
"I think it was an urgency to compete and most of all stay together," Ingram said. "We've been through some times where the other team was scoring offensively and we weren't able to stop the bleeding or find a rhythm on the offensive end. At those times, we would put our heads down a little bit and sort of take it upon ourselves to try to fix it. I think tonight we just stayed connected."
Scottie Barnes, playing through illness that made him a game-time decision, scored 14 points and blocked two shots, one in the final minute.