The Toronto Raptors were a long way from having their full roster in Detroit Monday, but they still cleared that hurdle to beat the Pistons 115-111.

Stripped of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. among his key players, head coach Nick Nurse trusted guard Dalano Banton among others. The latter responded well to the call and finished the tournament with 27 points, the highest total for any player on the only Canadian team in the NBA.

Quebecer Chris Boucher also had a starring role. In 31:13 on the ground, he made seven of 12 shots, including one of three from downtown, as well as his five free throws, for 20 points, the team’s second-highest total. He also had four rebounds and one assist.

The visitors were never really concerned, never looking back after taking the lead at the end of the first quarter. They also won the first three quarters before ceding the fourth to their rivals.

For the Pistons, Jaden Ivey tried to keep the rhythm with 21 points, but to no avail. Among other things, performances of 18 and 16 points from Bojan Bogdanovic and Marvin Bagley III helped him.

The Raptors thus cap a short three-game journey with just one win. They will now return north of the Canada-US border to face the Miami Heat there on Wednesday.

There and the Thunder cannot stop the Celtics

In Boston, Quebec’s Luguentz Dort and the Oklahoma City Thunder came close to upsetting them, but ultimately lost 126-122 to the Celtics.

The guests had pushed the cheek after three quarters to a seven-point lead. In the fourth and last game, however, they were beaten 37:26.

The Thunder couldn’t keep Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who scored 27 and 26 points, respectively. Marcus Smart also helped them, adding 22 points.

There, in turn, he was the second most productive of his team with 21 points. Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was again the star of his team with 37 points.