{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
Toronto 121, Detroit 119
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Officials: #3 Nick Buchert, #50 Gediminas Petraitis, #8 Marc Davis
Attendance: 17769
Fred VanVleet made a jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining in overtime, allowing the Toronto Raptors to extend their winning streak to six games with a 121-119 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

The Raptors also became the first team to clinch a playoff spot with the victory.

DeMar DeRozan poured in 42 points and set up the go-ahead shot for the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors. Kyle Lowry posted 15 points, six rebounds, 15 assists and four steals, Norman Powell had 17 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Toronto.

Blake Griffin's 31 points led Detroit, which has dropped four straight and 10 of 12. Reggie Bullock contributed 21 points, Ish Smith and James Ennis added 14 points apiece and Andre Drummond had 10 points and 21 rebounds.

Raptors power forward Serge Ibaka was ejected in the second quarter for arguing with the officials.

Neither side scored in overtime until Drummond was called for goaltending against Pascal Siakim with 2:01 left. Smith answered with a jumper but DeRozan responded with a three-point play.

Griffin's three with 36.8 seconds left tied it at 119-all.

Bullock missed on an open three and DeRozan then penetrated and kicked it out to VanVleet on the left side for the game-winner.

Griffin's 3-point try at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Ibaka was tossed with 4:38 remaining in the second quarter after he picked up his third foul. That came at the tail end of a 22-2 Pistons outburst that gave them a 48-31 lead.

The game took a dramatic turn in the third quarter, as the Raptors outscored the Pistons 40-25.

Smith drilled a three to tie the game at 109-all in the late going. DeRozan then fired in a shot from the left side with the shot clock running and 18.2 seconds remaining. Griffin responded with a shot in the lane while getting fouled by Siakam. His subsequent free throw gave Detroit a one-point lead.

With the Raptors out of timeouts, DeRozan went coast-to-coast for a dunk and got fouled by Anthony Tolliver in the process. He then made the free throw with 4.6 seconds left.

Following a timeout, Griffin made a hook shot to send the game into overtime.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Toronto   Detroit
DeMar DeRozan 42 Scoring Blake Griffin 31
Kyle Lowry 15 Assists Ish Smith 7
Jonas Valanciunas 11 Rebounds Andre Drummond 21
DeMar DeRozan 8 Free Throws Made James Ennis III 6
Kyle Lowry 4 Steals Blake Griffin 2
Jonas Valanciunas 3 Blocks Andre Drummond 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Toronto 121 44.6 12-40 19-21 33 47 7 9 10
Detroit 119 48.9 13-26 18-23 27 51 7 2 16
Upcoming Games
  • Detroit will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Pistons have a W/L % of .517 after a win and .389 after a loss.
  • Toronto will play their next game at home against Houston. The Raptors have a W/L % of .723 after a win and .765 after a loss.