Jaden Ivey’s Buzzer-Beater Sinks Raptors in Detroit
DETROIT — The Toronto Raptors fell in heart-wrenching fashion Monday night as Jaden Ivey’s buzzer-beating jumper lifted the Detroit Pistons to a 102-100 victory. The loss comes despite an inspired 31-point effort from Scottie Barnes, who nearly carried Toronto to a win.
The Raptors battled back from an early 15-point deficit and entered the final moments deadlocked at 100. With just over 20 seconds left, Barnes delivered a clutch layup through heavy traffic to tie the game. Detroit called a timeout, and Ivey took over, draining an off-balance baseline jumper over Ochai Agbaji as the clock hit zero.
Slow Start, Resilient Response
The night began ominously for Toronto, as Detroit stormed to a 26-11 lead late in the first quarter. But the Raptors clawed back, spurred by a 29-9 run fueled by their bench. Barnes led the charge, scoring 20 points in the first half as Toronto pulled even at 48 by halftime.
Despite Barnes’ heroics, Toronto’s starting lineup struggled to provide consistent offensive support. RJ Barrett, who finished with 17 points, sank a critical three-pointer late in the fourth to put the Raptors ahead 98-96, but the Pistons quickly responded.
Dominating the Glass
A key bright spot for the Raptors was their dominance on the boards. Toronto grabbed 23 offensive rebounds to Detroit’s six, generating numerous second-chance opportunities. In the second half alone, the Raptors collected 53% of their own missed shots and controlled 71% of the Pistons’ misses.
Barnes Shines Bright
Barnes showcased his growing offensive repertoire, hitting three of eight from beyond the arc while relentlessly attacking the paint. His 20 first-half points accounted for nearly half of Toronto’s offense as his teammates struggled to find a rhythm.
Key Notes for Detroit
The Pistons, playing without star guard Cade Cunningham for a second straight game, got a boost from the return of rookie Ausar Thompson. Thompson, sidelined since March due to blood-clotting issues, received a warm ovation from the Detroit crowd when he entered late in the first quarter.
What’s Next?
The Raptors (4-14) will look to bounce back Wednesday night in New Orleans, where they face the Pelicans. With their road trip underway, maintaining focus and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities will be crucial as Toronto seeks more consistent production from its starting five.
For more on the Raptors’ season, stay tuned to GTA Today.
