TORONTO — Guard Brandon Jennings scored 34 points and had 10 assists as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-111 on Monday.
Guard Jodie Meeks, who had 13 points, hit a decisive 3-pointer in the final minute as the Pistons (14-24) won their second game in a row and their ninth in the past 10 games.
The Raptors (25-12) have lost five of their past six games.
Forward Greg Monroe added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who also got 10 points and 14 rebounds from center Andre Drummond and 10 points from forward Jonas Jerebko.
The Raptors, who led by as many as 14 points in the first half, had a career-best 31 points from center Jonas Valanciunas, who also added 12 rebounds.
Guard Greivis Vasquez had 16 points off the bench and reserve guard Lou Williams scored 15 for the Raptors. Guard Terrence Ross and forward Amir Johnson chipped in with 12 each and forward James Johnson had 11. Guard Kyle Lowry scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter and added 12 assists. Amir Johnson added 10 rebounds.
Valanciunas scored 14 points and nabbed six rebounds to lead the Raptors to a 32-20 lead after the first quarter. Ross added 10 points.
The Raptors led 60-48 at the half. Valanciunas had 22 points and 10 rebounds at the intermission. Jennings had 14 points for the Pistons.
Drummond’s tip shot with 7:42 to play in the third quarter drew the Pistons to within three points. After the Raptors scored, Monroe was fouled in the process of sinking a layup and Ross was called for a technical foul. Jennings made the technical foul shot and Monroe made his free throw to cut the Toronto lead to one.
The Raptors went up by three points and Jennings hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 70. Jennings made two free throws to put the Pistons up by two points. The Pistons went up by four points before the Raptors came back to tie on a dunk by forward Patrick Patterson. After Drummond made one of two three throws, Williams put Toronto into an 83-82 lead after three quarters.
Vasquez gave Toronto a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer. The Pistons tied it on a running layup by Meeks with 8:04 to play.
Toronto regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Lowry, his first points of the game. It was 100-100 when Meeks made two free throws with 4:28 to play.
Lowry scored the next four points as Toronto regained the lead. Jennings made two free throws and hit a 3-pointer to put Detroit ahead 105-104 before Valanciunas put Toronto ahead by one. Jerebko scored the next five points to give the Pistons a three-point lead with 1:29 to play. Amir Johnson cut the lead to one before Meeks hit a 3-pointer with 53.9 seconds to play and the Pistons led 112-108. Lowry hit a 3-pointer and the lead was one. After a miss by the Pistons, Toronto had possession with 14.8 seconds to play. After a timeout, Lowry missed his shot. Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit two free throws with 6.6 seconds to play to clinch the win.
NOTES: Raptors coach Dwane Casey said he could have a better indication this week about when G DeMar DeRozan (torn groin muscle) will be ready to play. DeRozan missed his 21st straight game on Monday. … The Pistons entered Monday’s game having won eight of nine games for the first time since Dec. 23, 2008 to Jan. 9, 2009. … F James Johnson had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday to earn his second straight start Monday. It was his seventh start of the season. … Pistons F Greg Monroe entered Monday having recorded six consecutive double-doubles, averaging 16.8 points and 13.2 rebounds. … The Pistons will be home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. … The Raptors will play the fourth game of their six-game homestand Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.