RAPTORS: IBM Post Game Instant Replay

TORONTO, April 1 (Ticker) -- Lenny Wilkens tied Bill Fitch for the most losses as an NBA coach as his Toronto Raptors fell behind early and were unable to come all the way back in a 92-85 setback to the Detroit Pistons.

Wilkens has 1,106 losses, tying Fitch. He can break the record in the finale of the home-and-home series Wednesday in Detroit.

"I've had a great career," Wilkens said. "If you're around long enough, that happens. I don't think it's any big thing. I think I've been here a long time and I've been successful. So with success, that comes."

After falling behind by 22 points, the Raptors rallied within 86-83 with 1:38 left on Rafer Alston's three-point play, which capped a 12-2 run. But former Raptor Chauncey Billups hit six free throws in the final minute to seal the victory for the Pistons.

Richard Hamilton led the Pistons with 20 pts on Tuesday night.
Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images

"We were real upset being down by that much and allowing them to get some easy baskets," Alston said. "We might have run out of gas. When you come back the way that we came back, you work really hard."

Billups scored 17 points, going 11-of-11 from the line. Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 20 points.

"It's not always going to be pretty," Pistons coach Rick Carlisle said. "The important thing is we got out of here alive."

The Pistons opened a 55-36 lead with 9:11 left in the third quarter on Clifford Robinson's 3-pointer. The Raptors did not get back within single digits until Vince Carter scored on a driving layup with 3:49 to play, making it 84-75.

Voshon Lenard scored 21 points and Carter added 20 for Toronto. Michael Bradley had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors and has collected double-doubles in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

The Pistons (47-26) moved 4 1/2 games ahead of the Indiana Pacers in their quest for a second straight Central Division title.

"Anytime you can get a win, you've got to be happy," said Corliss Williamson, who had 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting off the bench. "This is the stretch run towards the end of the season. You want to get to where you are playing some of your better basketball."

Ben Wallace had six points, 20 rebounds and three blocks for Detroit. It was his 16th 20-rebound game of the season and eighth since March 1. Wallace has had at least 16 boards in 12 straight games.

QUICK HITS

Ben Wallace recorded seven rebounds in the opening quarter and finished the game with a Raptors opponent season-high 20 rebounds (old: 19 twice) … He has recorded at least 20 rebounds in eight of the last nine games.

This was the first time in eight games that the Raptors were outscored in the opening quarter.

The Raptors 15 first quarter points were the second lowest total for the season in the opening quarter (14 – Feb. 2 vs. L.A. Clippers).

The Piston bench had outscored opponents in 61-of-72 games this season entering tonight’s contest, but they were outscored by the Raptor bench 40-29 tonight.

Michael Bradley recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds … It was also the first time in his NBA career Bradley has recorded consecutive double-doubles.

The Raptors went on a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to pull within three points of the Pistons with 1:38 remaining in the game.

Detroit has won four games in a row in Toronto and 13 of their last 15 games in Toronto.

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Post Game Quotes

PLAYER OF THE GAME

MICHAEL BRADLEY

Michael Bradley put together another solid game grabbing 14 rebounds and scoring 10 points in 37 minutes of action.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It is another sign of us not giving up, just competing together and trusting each other. The deficit may have been just a little too big for us, but the one thing you can’t question about us is our effort,” Vince Carter.

KEY STAT

The Raptors shot 50% from the field in the fourth quarter while holding the Pistons to 24%, but shot only 37% for the rest of the game while the Pistons shot 49%.

LINE OF THE GAME

Ben Wallace:Only 6 points, but Big Ben grabbed an amazing 20 rebounds and blocked three shots.

TOP HIGHLIGHT

Capping off a great fourth quarter, Rafer Alston dribbled hard toward the basket at Chauncey Billups, turned around backward in the air, took the contact, and banked the ball home behind his head before going to the line and converting the three-point play.

HUSTLE BOARD

Team	RB	ST	BLK	TOT
DET	47	8	3	58
TOR	42	9	7	58

LEADERBOARD
TORONTO		DETROIT
A. Williams	Points: V. Lenard - 21 Rebounds: McCoy, Bradley -14 Assists: A. Williams – 6	B. Wallace	Points: R. Hamilton - 20 Rebounds: B. Wallace - 20 Assists: C. Billups - 4