Pacers' strong finish turns game with Pistons into rout

Field Level Media|published: Fri 24th November, 22:43 2023

Nov 24, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (22) blocks the shot of Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. credits: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrese Haliburton had 26 points and 10 assists and Indiana finished the game on a 19-1 run to hand the Detroit Pistons their 13th consecutive loss, 136-113, in Indianapolis on Friday night.

The game was also part of the NBA's in-season tournament. Indiana, which had already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals, finished the East Group A stage with a 4-0 record. The Pistons lost all four of their tournament games.

Myles Turner had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, while Buddy Hield tossed in 18 points. Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin added 15 points apiece.

Cade Cunningham's 31 points led Detroit. Jadey Ivey supplied 25 points and Jalen Duren added 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Cunningham had 22 points by halftime, lifting the Pistons to a 63-61 lead. Detroit scored 13 points on the fast break in the first half. Hield's 12 points topped the Pacers, who led by as much as 12 points.

Indiana reeled off 10 unanswered points early in the second half to take a 75-69 lead. Turner got it started with a putback dunk. Haliburton contributed a 3-pointer and an assist during that stretch.

A Duren putback with 4:31 left in the quarter cut Indiana's lead to one, 83-82. A Haliburton 3-pointer with three minutes remaining in the third nudged Indiana's advantage to six, 92-86. The Pistons scored the last five points of the quarter, including an Alec Burks 3-pointer, to cut their deficit to 97-96.

Killian Hayes scored the first basket of the fourth to give Detroit the lead. Cunningham's layup with 8:49 left put the Pistons up two, 106-104.

Indiana then scored the next seven points, including a Toppin 3-pointer along with an assist and dunk from Bruce Brown.

A Detroit turnover led to Turner's putback dunk with 6:04 left to give the Pacers a 115-108 advantage.

After Ivey made a layup with 5:18 left to cut Indiana's lead to five, the Pacers put the game away. Turner sparked the late outburst with three inside baskets, including two putbacks.

—Field Level Media

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