--The Pistons won their sixth Central Division title in seven years and ninth overall since 1987-88. Only San Antonio (10) has won more in that span. New Jersey and the Spurs, with four apiece, are tied for second behind the Pistons in division crowns since 2001-02.
--Third-year power forward Amir Johnson passed the audition. Coach Flip Saunders wanted to see how Johnson would defend Toronto All-Star Chris Bosh, in case the teams meet up again in the playoffs. Johnson played so well Wednesday night that Saunders left him in the entire fourth quarter. Bosh only scored four fourth-quarter points.
"That's one of the reasons I put him in there," Saunders said. "That was a game, knowing they were a potential playoff opponent, that I wanted to see how some guys would react in those situations against (Bosh)."
Johnson's defense helped the Pistons make two belated runs at the Raptors.
"I was just going out there, trying to get stops, help the team get rebounds, just to get our team back in the game," Johnson said.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We may be a little bit older, but we're not done yet." -- Coach Flip Saunders, on the Pistons' clinching the Central Division title.
