Raptors pay a visit to Pistons

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Raptors will try to move closer to an Atlantic Division title when they visit the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night.

The Raptors have won four of their last six games and are coming off a 106-89 beating of the lowly New York Knicks on Sunday.

DeMar DeRozan had 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Tyler Hansbrough scored 18 points off the bench and Jonas Valanciunas added 17 points and 10 boards for the Raptors.

"We just got to stay focused ... We have to take something from every game," DeRozan said.

Raptors All-Star guard Kyle Lowry missed his second straight game due to a bruised back. He is questionable Tuesday.

The Raptors, who sit third in the East standings, are 18-16 away from home and will start a three-game homestand Wednesday versus Chicago, LA Lakers and Houston.

Detroit has won two straight and three of four games, including Sunday's 105-97 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics.

Andre Drummond had 18 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Pistons, who scored the first seven points in overtime. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ended with 27 points and Reggie Jackson recorded 17 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, finishing just short of his second triple-double in three games.

"I mean I keep saying it, this team's got a lot of character and guys have continued to fight the entire year," said Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy.

The Pistons are five games off the eighth and final postseason spot in the East and will visit Orlando and Miami next.

Pistons forward Greg Monroe (knee) is questionable Tuesday and hasn't played since March 14 at Utah. He is posting 16.0 points and 10.4 rebounds.

Toronto is 2-1 against Detroit this season and has won seven of the last nine meetings between the teams.