The Detroit Pistons secured a hard-fought 99-95 victory over the Toronto Raptors in NBA Cup action on Friday night, thanks to Malik Beasley’s clutch fourth-quarter performance.
Beasley tallied 20 points, including seven in the decisive moments, propelling Detroit to its second tournament win this season.
Cade Cunningham added 15 points and 10 assists for the Pistons, overcoming a slow start by hitting key shots in the final quarter.
Tobias Harris contributed a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Ron Holland notched 10 points and eight boards despite missing all six of his three-point attempts.
Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey combined for 26 points, rounding out Detroit’s balanced attack.
Detroit struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 8-for-38 (21.1%). However, they capitalized on timely defensive stops, limiting Toronto to 36.1% shooting from the field.
The Pistons’ bench provided a crucial boost, led by Wendell Moore Jr., who scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.
Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl delivered a standout performance with 25 points and a career-high 19 rebounds.
RJ Barrett added 22 points, and rookie Gradey Dick contributed 16, though he went 1-for-10 from three-point range.
Cunningham redeemed his earlier struggles by hitting 2-of-3 shots in the fourth quarter, including a clutch three-pointer.
The Pistons’ ability to execute under pressure contrasted sharply with the Raptors’ struggles, particularly from long range, where they shot 8-for-31 (25.8%).
Detroit improved to 2-0 in NBA Cup play after an overtime victory against Miami earlier in the week. The win also marked a step forward for the Pistons, who went winless in the tournament last season. They now sit at 6-8 overall.
Toronto, now 2-11, has dropped 10 of its last 11 games, compounding frustrations in a challenging season. Poeltl’s dominance inside was one of the few bright spots, but the team’s inability to capitalize on offensive opportunities and defensive lapses proved costly.
The Pistons controlled the boards, out-rebounding the Raptors 56-53, and limited their turnovers to 13 compared to Toronto’s 14. Detroit’s depth was evident, with players like Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser stepping up on both ends of the floor.
