Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a team-high 27 points to power the Detroit Pistons to a 123-114 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night. The win at Little Caesars Arena improved Detroit’s record to 20-19, while the Raptors dropped to 8-31.
Cade Cunningham delivered a stellar performance, recording 22 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season. He came within one assist of matching his career high and continues to rank second in franchise history for triple-doubles. Detroit has now won nine of its last 11 games, cementing its position as a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference.
Malik Beasley added 18 points off the bench, providing a scoring boost for the Pistons. Detroit also capitalized on its three-point shooting, converting 19 of 33 attempts for a season-high 57.6% from beyond the arc. Hardaway Jr. led the long-range barrage, hitting seven of his eight three-point attempts.
Immanuel Quickley paced the Raptors with 25 points, including four three-pointers. Despite his efforts, Toronto suffered its fifth consecutive loss and has dropped 16 of its last 17 games. Scottie Barnes contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Boucher and Bruce Brown each scored 14 points off the bench.
Toronto held a slim 66-65 lead at halftime, but Hardaway Jr. ignited the Pistons in the third quarter with 11 points, helping Detroit build a 99-93 lead heading into the final period. The Raptors tied the game at 109 on Quickley’s jumper with five minutes left, but missed opportunities at the free-throw line proved costly. Toronto went 18-of-27 from the stripe, including four consecutive misses in the closing minutes.
Cunningham’s short jumper with 3:48 remaining gave the Pistons a 113-109 advantage, and Detroit never relinquished the lead. The Raptors were unable to capitalize on a key fourth-quarter possession despite grabbing three offensive rebounds, allowing Detroit to seal the win.
Toronto saw seven players score in double figures, but its bench provided a mixed bag. Jamal Shead was a bright spot, tallying 10 points, five assists, and a +17 plus-minus rating in just 16 minutes.
Detroit’s efficient shooting made the difference, as the team outperformed Toronto in overall field goal percentage (52.4% to 43.5%) and three-point accuracy.