Raptors show many weapons in blowout victory over Pistons

Rudi Schuller

Raptors show many weapons in blowout victory over Pistons image

The Toronto Raptors got back in the win column with a 123-94 dismantling of the Detroit Pistons at the Air Canada Centre on Monday.

With big contributions from DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, the Raptors looked comfortable in dispatching a playoff hopeful and maintaining their perch atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Here are three takeaways from Monday's contest:

The Big Three

Much has been made this season of Toronto's depth, which is among the best in the NBA. Many games have been decided by the strength of the Raptors' bench, which is a testament to the team-building done by the front office and coaching staff.

But the NBA remains a league dominated by star players, and on Monday Toronto's biggest names were also their biggest contributors.

When DeRozan, Lowry and Ibaka are all switched on in the same game, it makes the Raptors near-impossible to beat.

Venus and Serena graphic

Blocks on blocks

It's easy to point to the big offensive night had by the Raptors' marquee players as the reason for victory, but the Pistons were also finding it tough when they got near Toronto's rim.

Led by Pascal Siakam's pair of rejections, Toronto players combined for seven blocks to Detroit's three.

If the Pistons were going to take the ball to the rack, they'd have to earn their points.

Siakam, DeRozan, Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright and Jakob Poeltl all got in on the action on a good defensive night for the home team.

Sharing is caring

Toronto seemed to be firing on all cylinders against the Pistons, and that included the way the Raptors shared the ball.

This season's edition of the Raptors moves the ball far more effectively than in years' past, and on Monday they showed just how efficiently they can distribute the basketball with 31 team assists to Detroit's 20.

DeRozan led the way with seven assists, with Siakam (perhaps surprisingly) following right behind with six.

Rudi Schuller