DETROIT_That expected Detroit Pistons playoff appearance is in jeopardy.
After taking a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter, the Pistons watched the Toronto Raptors out-tough them on the way to an 87-75 victory at the Palace Friday night.
Energized by sizable contingent, the Raptors closed the game on a 25-3 run and held the Pistons scoreless for more than 5 minutes of the stretch.
As Raptors star DeMar DeRozan was at the free-throw line in the closing minutes, Raptors fans took over the Palace with chants of "Let's go, Raptors!"
Pistons fans headed toward the exits.
The Pistons (33-36) were leading, 74-73, with 4:54 remaining, when Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy pulled Jackson and turned to Ish Smith.
The Pistons didn't score again until Jackson's free throw at the 1:16 mark made it 85-75.
The Raptors (40-29) were able to win the game despite only 14 points from their All-Star DeRozan.
But Norman Powell scored eight of 11 points in the fourth quarter to push the Pistons a half game behind the Miami Heat, who also played Friday night, for the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff spot. The Pistons have lost three straight.
Jackson led the Pistons with 20 points and six assists. Tobias Harris, who will start at power forward the rest of the season, scored 14 points. Jon Leuer added 12 points.
Serge Ibaka scored 17 points for the Raptors.
If it wasn't for Harris' six points in the first quarter, it would have been completely putrid.
The Pistons only managed 13 points on 25 percent shooting in the first quarter. The 13 points marked a season low for the first quarter.
The Raptors weren't much better in taking a 16-13 lead.
Jackson got going in the second quarter with eight points and three assists. His driving layup at the 5:30 mark of the second quarter completed a 10-0 run and gave the Pistons a 32-24 lead.
But with DeRozan struggling, the Pistons failed to capitalize.
DeMarre Carroll scored 10 points in the first half, as the Raptors took a 40-38 lead into halftime.
Drummond was active with 15 rebounds, but he was 0-for-4 from the line.
The Pistons trailed by seven at 53-46 on a DeRozan jumper over Marcus Morris, but surged to end the third quarter.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's 17-footer cut the deficit to 58-56.
And his pull-up three-pointer on the fast-break gave the Pistons a 59-58 lead at the 2:58 mark.
The Pistons kept surging.
Leuer's offensive rebound and put-back of a Smith air-ball gave the Pistons a 66-60 lead going into the fourth quarter.
