Pistons clinch playoff spot with win over Raptors

Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News on Apr 4, 2025

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TORONTO — The Detroit Pistons ended their three-game road trip with a 117-105 win over the Toronto Raptors Friday night at Scotiabank Arena.

With the win, the Pistons improved to 43-34 overall and clinched a playoff spot for the first time in six years. Detroit will finish the season no worse than the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Jalen Duren had an impressive night with 21 points, 18 rebounds and six assists.

Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Pistons (43-34) with 23 points, and Malik Beasley added 21.

The Pistons began to find a rhythm in the second period, but they started to create separation in the third quarter. They opened the second half on an 11-0 run and built a 22-point lead (79-57) by the 8:32 mark of the third quarter.

The Raptors gave Detroit a slight scare by embarking on a 15-4 run. However, Hardaway helped the Pistons regain momentum by leading an 8-0 run at the end of the quarter. He nailed a 3-point field goal at the buzzer to give the Pistons a 93-77 lead.

Hardaway, who came into the night averaging 25.0 points over the last three games, finished with a team-best 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting with five made triples.

Despite entering the fourth quarter with a double-digit lead, the Raptors went on one last run. They opened the period on a 14-4 run and came within four points (95-91) midway through the period. However, the Pistons picked up their intensity to keep the Raptors at a distance.

Ja'Kobe Walter led the Raptors with 22 points. Rookie Jamal Shead came off the bench and notched 14 points and nine assists.

Up next

The Pistons will play the second night of their back-to-back set Saturday during an interconference match against the Memphis Grizzlies. The game will also mark the start of a three-game homestand for the Pistons. Tipoff between the Grizzlies and Pistons at Little Caesars Arena is slated for 7 p.m.