Jaden Ivey nails game-winning shot to edge Raptors, 102-100

DETROIT— The Detroit Pistons ended their three-game losing streak in a thrilling 102-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors Monday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Malik Beasley (14 points) split a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter, leaving Detroit trailing the Raptors 91-88 with 4:30 left. On the next offensive possession, Jaden Ivey also went one of two from the foul line. It was a situation that repeated itself when Jalen Duren (13 points and 12 rebounds) also went one of two. However, Tim Hardaway Jr. broke the trend with a triple that tied the game at 93.

Following a missed layup by Davion Mitchell, Ivey drove down the court for a clutch basket in transition. Beasley later found Isaiah Stewart for a dunk that gave the Pistons a 100-98 lead with 39 seconds. However, Scottie Barnes (31 points and 14 rebounds) scored on a driving layup to tie the game once again, but this time at 100. Following a timeout, Ivey scored a game-winning basket at the buzzer over the top of Ochai Agbaji.

Ivey finished the game with 25 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Cade Cunningham missed his second straight game due to a joint injury. For the second consecutive game, Ivey took control of the offense and was essential in keeping the Pistons afloat. As the primary ball-handler, he helped Detroit maintain the ongoing flow of the offense. The Pistons are 8-11 overall.

The Pistons began the night connecting on nine out of their first 11 field goal attempts and held a 21-7 lead. However, following a Toronto timeout, the Raptors went on a 15-8 run. Barnes led the Raptors comeback with 20 first-half points. The Pistons and Raptors were tied by halftime at 49. RJ Barrett finished with 17.

Since taking over as coach of the Pistons in July, coach J.B. Bickerstaff came during the tail-end of Ausar Thompson's ongoing recovery from a blood clot. The second-year forward sustained the illness in March, which abruptly ended his rookie season.

Bickerstaff always admired Thompson's positivity night after night while he remained idle. But on Monday, 262 days since his last appearance, Thompson made his season debut. By falling to the Raptors at Little Caesars Arena, the Pistons' losing streak reaches four, matching their longest since starting the season 0-4.

Thompson played 16 minutes and recorded five points, four rebounds and three assists. His lone basket came at the 5:13 mark of the third quarter when he connected on a 3-pointer, which demonstrated the work he put in during his offseason training with assistant coach Fred Vinson.

Up next

The Pistons will embark on another two-game road trip starting on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. They will conclude the trip Friday night amid their third In-Season Tournament game against the Indiana Pacers. Tipoff between the Pistons and Grizzlies is slated for 8 p.m. ET.

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