Pistons 101, Raptors 95
Tracy McGrady scored a season-high 22 points in his second start of the year and the Detroit Pistons held on to a halftime lead for the first time in three games en route to a 101-95 victory over the host Toronto Raptors.
Charlie Villanueva scored 12 of his 16 points during a three-minute, pull-away run in the second period for the Pistons, who blew halftime leads against Memphis and Chicago in their last two games.
McGrady scored 10 of the Pistons’ points in the third period as Detroit increased a seven-point halftime lead to 83-74.
Toronto pulled within 96-91 before McGrady weaved his way down the right side of the lane for a layup with one minute left to restore control and help Detroit snapped a five-game road losing streak and improve to 4-17 on the road.
Detroit played almost a flawless first half, shooting 58 percent and committing just two turnovers. Villanueva’s burst, which included two 3-pointers over a 3 1/2 –minute span, helped increase a three-point edge to 49-35. The Pistons led 61-54 at the half.
Andrea Bargnani kept the Raptors in it with 11 of his 31 in the fourth quarter and Jose Calderon finished with 13 assists for Toronto, which had its franchise high-tying streak of four consecutive games shooting .500 snapped (.475).