In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, the Detroit Pistons emerged victorious against the Toronto Raptors, clinching a 123-114 win. Cade Cunningham was the star of the game, contributing an impressive stat line with 22 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds. This performance brought Cunningham just one assist shy of achieving his career high, which he set back in December 2022, and it solidified his position as the player with the second-most triple-double performances in the history of the franchise.

Tim Hardaway Jr. also had a standout game with 27 points, helping the Pistons to their ninth victory in the last eleven games. Malik Beasley added to the score with 18 points, further supporting front-line efforts from his teammates. On the other side, Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 25 points, despite the team’s struggles, which saw them losing their fifth consecutive game and 16 out of their last 17 matches. Scottie Barnes contributed a double-double as well, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing the Raptors’ depth as seven players managed to score in double figures.

With five minutes remaining in the game, Quickley’s jumper brought the score to 109-109, but the Raptors squandered critical opportunities by missing four consecutive free throws. This lapse allowed the Pistons to seize the moment, as Cunningham hit a short jumper to put Detroit ahead 113-109 with 3:48 left in the game.

Observations from the game revealed that the Raptors struggled during crucial moments of the fourth quarter, failing to capitalize on three offensive rebounds they secured. As for the Pistons, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff opted to place Ausar Thompson in the starting lineup to replace Jaden Ivey. However, Beasley played a significant role coming off the bench, receiving ample playing time during the critical closing moments of the game.

At halftime, the Raptors held a narrow lead of 66-65. However, Hardaway took charge during the third quarter, racking up 11 points as Detroit took control of the game, establishing a 99-93 lead.

Despite the Pistons’ 10 turnovers in the first half that resulted in 19 points for the Raptors, they managed to limit the damage in the second half, allowing Toronto to score only four points from their seven turnovers.

Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to hit the hardwood again on Monday. The Raptors will host the Golden State Warriors, while the Pistons will head to New York for a showdown with the Knicks.