The Detroit Pistons hold a narrow 42-38 advantage over the Toronto Raptors at halftime on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit controlled the opening frame, racing out to a 26-20 lead behind the dominant interior presence of Jalen Duren. The Pistons' center was the engine of their offense, scoring 15 first-half points on efficient finishes. A 10-2 run midway through the first quarter gave the Pistons an early cushion they would not relinquish in the half.
Toronto stabilized in the second quarter, winning the period 18-16. The Raptors’ defense tightened, holding Detroit to just 16 points in the frame. RJ Barrett led the charge for Toronto, attacking the rim for a team-high 13 points and five rebounds. The Raptors chipped away at the deficit but missed several opportunities to draw even, struggling to find consistent offense outside of Barrett. Brandon Ingram was held to just six points on a quiet shooting night so far.
The game has been defined by physical, low-scoring basketball. With Duren’s performance the clear difference, the Raptors must find an answer for him in the paint while jumpstarting their own scorers to reverse the four-point deficit after the break.
