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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- The Toronto Raptors have taken their
inconsistent tendencies to a new level.
Just 24 hours after shooting 39 percent in a 19-point home
loss to Houston, the Raptors went to Detroit, shot 59 percent, and
embarrassed the Pistons 110-85 Wednesday night.
|  | | Detroit's Mateen Cleaves passes the ball as Charles Oakley, left, seals off his path. Oakley led the Raptors with 19 points. |
"We were pretty upset after last night, and we were a totally
different team tonight," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "We
made a commitment to play the kind of defense we were capable of,
and when we do that, we are in good shape."
The Pistons, who have lost six of seven, are hoping that they
can turn things around just like the Raptors did.
"That's how things go in the NBA. They couldn't hit anything
against Houston, and they couldn't miss tonight," Detroit's Jerry
Stackhouse said. "We need something like that before Friday
against San Antonio, because this isn't a fun time for us right
now."
Morris Peterson, a resident of nearby Flint and a member of
Michigan State's 2000 NCAA champs, had 18 points in his return to
Michigan since being drafted by Toronto in the first round.
"It's always special to come home and play in front of your
family and friends, and to be able to play well," Peterson said.
"I was thinking about how I wanted to come in here and get off to
a good start."
Detroit lost its third straight, and sixth in seven games.
Charles Oakley added 19 for the Raptors, and Vince Carter 18.
Antonio Davis, who had missed three games with a strained groin,
had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Stackhouse led Detroit with 23 points, but shot just 4-for-19
from the field as the Pistons shot a season-worst 32.6 percent.
"This was embarrassing. We were getting booed by our own fans
and we deserved it," Stackhouse said. "You could see us getting
dejected because we were getting good looks, but nothing was going
down. It is hard to keep missing shots that you are used to hitting."
Toronto dominated from the opening tip, scoring the first eight
points and jumping out to a 23-6 lead.
"We really bounced back and got off to a great start,"
Peterson said. "Our defense picked it up, and that won us the
game."
The Pistons trailed 33-16 after one quarter, then made things
worse by missing nine of their first 10 field goals in the second.
That allowed the Raptors to build a 48-22 edge, and the margin was
62-38 at halftime. Peterson and Carter led the Raptors with 12
points each in the half.
Toronto ended any hopes of a comeback by Detroit by scoring the
first seven points of the second half, increasing its lead to 31.
The Raptors led by as many as 36 while cruising to the victory.
Game notes
Peterson played at the Palace for the first time since he
and Pistons rookie Mateen Cleaves led Michigan State over Iowa
State in the Midwest Regional final in March. ... Peterson and
Carter provided the only highlights of the second half with a pair
of spectacular alley-oop dunks. ... Toronto's win was just their
fifth in 21 games against the Pistons. Oddly, four of the five wins
have come at the Palace. ... The last time the Pistons were within
10 points was 14-6 early in the first quarter.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 88
Miami 76
Seattle 104
Washington 101
Toronto 110
Detroit 85
Dallas 106
Minnesota 86
Portland 93
Philadelphia 75
LA Clippers 92
Denver 86
Sacramento 108
Cleveland 103
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
Jerry Stackhouse Official Site
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