Berliner Boersenzeitung - Cunningham on target as depleted Pistons down Raptors

Duren and Stewart were both handed multi-game suspensions for their part in a mass brawl during Monday's stormy victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

But the absence of the two Pistons centers had little effect on Detroit as they coasted to a wire-to-wire victory in Toronto.

Detroit's balanced offense set up the win, with Paul Reed stepping into the void created by Duren and Stewart's absence with 22 points while Duncan Robinson added 13 and Tobias Harris 12.

Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff singled out Reed for praise after the victory, saluting the 26-year-old's readiness to slot into the starting line-up seamlessly.

"Basketball is what he eats, sleeps, bleeds," Bickerstaff said. "Every time he gets an opportunity it's quick twitch and ready to go. I've never seen a guy who prepares himself every day like he's gonna start and play 48 minutes."

The win leaves Detroit comfortably top of the Eastern Conference with a 40-13 record heading into the NBA All-Star break.

The Boston Celtics are second in the East after their 124-105 defeat of the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics improved to 35-19 -- 5.5 games back from the Pistons -- thanks to 26 points off the bench from Payton Pritchard and 24 from Jaylen Brown.

The New York Knicks are snapping at Boston's heels in third place after warming up for the break with a 138-89 drubbing of the Philadelpia 76ers.

After a shock reverse against the lowly Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, the Knicks got back into their stride with a lopsided pummeling of the Sixers.

The Knicks led by as many as 52 points at one stage in the fourth quarter as they sauntered to victory thanks to a blistering 26-point cameo off the bench from Jose Alvarado.

Alvarado drained eight-of-13 three-pointers on his way to leading the scoring, with Mikal Bridges adding 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns 21. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 32 points.

The Cleveland Cavaliers stretched their winning streak to five games with a 138-113 drubbing of the Washington Wizards.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points for the Cavs, who are fourth in the table on 34-21.

In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves' Julius Randle scored 41 points in a 133-109 defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers.

(T.Burkhard--BBZ)