Gordon helps Pistons top Raptors

4/22/2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Raptors' Solomon Alabi, left, is fouled by the Pistons' Greg Monroe, right, while going to the basket.
The Raptors' Solomon Alabi, left, is fouled by the Pistons' Greg Monroe, right, while going to the basket.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Reserve Ben Gordon scored 19 points, including the go-ahead basket, to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Toronto Raptors 76-73 on Sunday night.

Gordon’s 3-pointer with less than 3 minutes to play broke a 68-all tie and he added four subsequent free throws to keep Detroit ahead. Rookie Brandon Knight also had 19 points to help the Pistons end a two-game losing streak.

DeMar DeRozan had 16 for the Raptors, who lost their third straight.

The Pistons couldn’t celebrate the victory until Linas Kleiza’s 3-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired. Alan Anderson had two chances to give the Raptors the lead in the final 20 seconds but missed both shots.

Gordon’s 3-pointer capped a second half that had 15 lead changes.

Toronto took a 34-29 lead to intermission after the teams combined for the NBA’s second-lowest halftime output of the season. The Pistons made just 27 percent of their field-goal attempts in the opening half and the Raptors (35.1) weren’t much better.

Greg Monroe had nine points and 17 of Detroit’s 41 rebounds. Reserves Kleiza and Gary Forbes finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Raptors.

NOTES: Raptors coach Dwane Casey said he doubted G Jose Calderon will play in either of the team’s final two games. He’s been out since getting a cut above his right eye in an April 11 loss at Philadelphia. . Pistons F Ben Wallace returned after missing Thursday’s loss to Minnesota to attend a funeral. . Kleiza (right knee) played for the Raptors after missing two games. . Indiana and Boston had the league’s lowest-scoring first half Jan. 6 when they had a combined 58 points at the break.