Some teams just have the number of another team.
That was the case for the Detroit Pistons against the Toronto Raptors during this regular season.
Blake Griffin scored 25 points to lead the Pistons to a 110-107 win over visiting Toronto on Sunday, helping Detroit sweep the three-game regular season series against the Raptors.
Trailing 110-107 with 2.4 seconds left, Toronto had a glimmer of hope after Griffin missed two free throws.
Griffin intentionally fouled Toronto's Kawhi Leonard on the rebound with 1.4 seconds remaining, but Leonard missed the first throw. After Leonard intentionally missed the second, Pistons center Andre Drummond gathered the rebound and the clock ran out.
The second half was close throughout.
With the score tied 100-100, the Pistons took a 102-100 lead with 1:25 remaining on two free throws by Drummond.
On Toronto's next possession, Drummond stole a pass, dribbled down the court, then fed a pass to Wayne Ellington, who hit a layup to give the Pistons a 104-100 lead with 1:07 left
Toronto closed within 104-102 with a minute left on two free throws by Leonard, but Griffin hit a hook in the lane to give the Pistons a 106-102 lead with 42.4 seconds left.
Detroit took a 108-102 lead with 20.6 seconds left on two free throws by Reggie Jackson, but Danny Green hit a 3-pointer for Toronto with 14.3 seconds left to bring the Raptors within 108-105.
After getting fouled, Jackson hit two free throws again to put Detroit up 110-105.
Trailing 50-47 at halftime, Toronto came back in the third quarter, scoring 29 points in the first 9:27 of the third to take a 76-69 lead.
Detroit responded to end the third quarter and start the fourth, going on a 7-0 run to take an 85-84 lead with 10:44 remaining and start a back-and-fourth final quarter.
Drummond had 15 points and 17 rebounds for Detroit, while Leonard scored 33 points to lead Toronto.
--Field Level Media
Toronto | Detroit | |
Kawhi Leonard 33 | Scoring | Blake Griffin 25 |
Marc Gasol 8 | Assists | Ish Smith 8 |
Marc Gasol 11 | Rebounds | Andre Drummond 17 |
Kawhi Leonard 6 | Free Throws Made | Reggie Jackson 8 |
Kawhi Leonard 1 | Steals | Ish Smith 3 |
Marc Gasol 1 | Blocks | Thon Maker 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Toronto | 107 | 47.6 | 18-36 | 11-14 | 25 | 38 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Detroit | 110 | 47.0 | 8-27 | 24-27 | 23 | 44 | 3 | 8 | 10 |