Pacers roll over Pistons to sweep season series

Field Level Media|published: Wed 20th March, 21:38 2024

Mar 20, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) drives to the basket next to Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. credits: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Pascal Siakam had 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists and the visiting Indiana Pacers pounded the Detroit Pistons 122-103 on Wednesday night.

Tyrese Haliburton had 20 points, nine assists and four steals for the Pacers (39-31) on the first leg of a five-game road trip. Aaron Nesmith supplied 14 points and T.J. McConnell contributed 13 points and six assists.

Isaiah Jackson tossed in 10 points to along with 11 rebounds. The Pacers have won all four of their meetings with Detroit this season, averaging 129.5 points in those contests.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons (12-57), who have lost four straight, with 23 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. Jaden Ivey had 15 points and Jalen Duren added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Earlier in the day, the Pistons revealed that forward Ausar Thompson (blood clot) and center Isaiah Stewart (hamstring strain) would miss the remainder of the season. Detroit was also missing key reserves Simone Fontecchio (toe) and Quentin Grimes (knee) due to injury.

The Pacers scored the last nine points of the first half to take a 63-52 lead. Nesmith scored 12 second-quarter points while Siakam finished the half with 13 points. Cunningham carried his team with 17 points and six assists before intermission.

Perimeter shooting was the key to Indiana's halftime advantage — it knocked down eight treys before the break, while the Pistons made only two.

A Siakam hook shot with 8:30 remaining in the third quarter gave Indiana a 15-point lead. After Ivey drained a 3-pointer, the Pacers went on a 16-2 run.

Haliburton got it going with a three-point play. Siakam followed with a 3-pointer off a Myles Turner feed. Turner then set up Siakam for a layup.

Haliburton soon racked up assists, feeding Nesmith for a layup and Turner for a dunk. Siakam then fed Haliburton for a 3-point make for an 87-61 lead with 5:14 to go.

Detroit finished the quarter with a 9-4 spurt but still trailed by 20, 98-78, entering the fourth. The Pistons never threatened in the final quarter.

—Field Level Media

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