Jaden Ivey’s last-second jumper sealed a dramatic 102-100 victory for the Detroit Pistons (8-11) over the Toronto Raptors (4-14) on Monday night, breaking Detroit’s three-game losing streak.
With the score tied at 100-100 after Scottie Barnes’ contested layup in the final seconds, the Pistons called a timeout to set up their game-winning play. Ivey dribbled down the clock, drove past Ochai Agbaji, and nailed a baseline jumper as time expired.
Ivey led the Pistons with 25 points, shooting an efficient 10-for-13 from the field, while also dishing out eight assists.
Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart contributed nine points and seven rebounds off the bench, including a key dunk that briefly gave the Pistons the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Toronto was powered by Scottie Barnes, who scored 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. RJ Barrett added 17 points, but the Raptors struggled with shooting consistency, hitting only 39.4% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
The Pistons started strong, opening up a 26-11 lead in the first quarter. However, Toronto countered with a 29-9 run, fueled by Barnes’ hot hand, to take a five-point lead midway through the second. By halftime, the game was tied at 48-48, thanks to Detroit’s efficient bench scoring.
Detroit’s ability to convert at crucial moments overshadowed Toronto’s dominance on the boards. The Raptors secured 23 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Pistons 50-38 overall. Despite their advantage, they couldn’t capitalize on second-chance opportunities late in the game.
Ausar Thompson made his return for Detroit after an eight-month absence due to blood-clotting issues, receiving a standing ovation when he entered in the first quarter. Thompson finished with five points, three rebounds, and four assists in 16 minutes.
Barnes carried the Raptors in the first half with 20 points, but the rest of the Toronto starters struggled to contribute offensively. Chris Boucher and Bruno Fernando combined for 19 points off the bench, helping the Raptors stay competitive in the second half.
The game featured back-and-forth action in the final minutes. After Ivey tied the game at 98-98 with a driving layup, Stewart’s dunk put Detroit ahead before Barnes’ clutch layup knotted the score. Ultimately, Ivey’s composure under pressure delivered the decisive moment for the Pistons.
The win gives Detroit momentum as they look to climb out of the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings. For the Raptors, their struggles continue as they drop to 4-14, searching for answers to turn their season around.
