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Upon returning to Toronto, a video tribute to sacked coach Dwane Casey sparked the standing ovation of the Raptors fans Wednesday night. Casey's Detroit Pistons then returned to stun their old team with a powerful drummer.
When Reggie Bullock, the Pistons' swingman, hit a float when time was running out for a 106-104 win, Casey raised his arms to the skies and jumped onto the field. The coach was grabbed, hugged and slapped by his players.
"They were shooting for me," Casey said. "I like it a lot." "It's a player's league." It's all about players, it's not about coaching, but again. it's about human beings as much as they could, but you know Blake [Griffin] was the first. He said: "It's a big win for you, coach." And that means something, when your star player comes to you and tells you that, and other players join us. "
The Pistons went 19 points to win their third game in four games.
"I felt good for the players because they did not stop dismantling and that's what we are," Casey said.
Casey, 61, was fired by Toronto just days after the Raptors were ousted by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third straight season.
After leading Toronto to a team record of 59 wins and leading the Eastern Conference last season, Casey was also named the NBA's New Year Coach – after his reference.
Casey said that even though he had not seen the video tribute – Griffin had told him about it – he had appreciated the gesture.
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