Pistons Clowned in Toronto: 112-91

Jan 8, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey (3) reacts after being hit by Toronto Raptors center-forward Chuck Hayes (44) during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

– Detroit drops their sixth straight, and 8 of their last 9 with their latest blowout loss of the season to the Raptors of Toronto, 112-91.

Not many high points in this one as Detroit continues to drop the ball in what was supposed to be the easy part of their schedule. Brandon Jennings finished with 22 points and 9 assists on 6/19 shooting, Josh Smith had 13-6-2, and Moose added 11 and 11 in yet another blowout loss.

The Pistons trailed 39-28 early in the second period to the Raptors before going on a 14-0 run to give them back the lead 42-39. Detroit would hold on to the lead 54-50 at the break, playing engaged basketball with a sense of urgency on the defensive end, something Piston fans have seen very little of recent.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the first half surge on both sides of the ball. Holding DeMar DeRozan to 2 points, 2 turnovers, and 0/9 shooting in the opening half. KCP himself added 13 points, grabbed 2 boards, and picked 4 steals all in the first two quarters.

Detroit added to their success by getting out on the break early, scoring 18 first half points in transition on the Raptors. The lone bright spot for Toronto in the first half was the play of straight shooting two guard Terrence Ross. Ross (drafted one spot ahead of Piston center Andre Drummond in the 2012 NBA Draft), finished with 17 points in the game, connecting on 50 percent of his three-point attempts (5/10).

The four point deficit Toronto was in seemed to awaken them, coming out of the gate strong, opening the third on an 8-0 run. The Raptors, led by Point Guard Kyle Lowry, in the third quarter (21 points, 9 assists) outscored Detroit 34-20 in the period.

As the Raptors heated up in the second half, so did their go-to guy, DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan notched 19 points for the game, scoring 17 of them in the second half as he held opposing ShootingGuard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in check in the second half. KCP did not register a single point in the second half as the Detroit debacle continues.

Toronto outscored Detroit 62-37 in the second half leading them to their first win in three games, Raptors get back to .500 with the dub.

Detroit heads to Philadelphia to play the (12-23) Sixers in the city of brotherly love Friday evening as they look to get this six-game losing streak behind them before it is too late.

With the loss, the Pistons drop out of the top eight seeds in the East as the Brooklyn Nets take over the eighth and final playoff spot for the time being.

How much longer can General Manager Joe Dumars take before he pulls the plug on his offseason work? I guess we will have to wait and see…