Indiana
Detroit Pistons left in dust on the road by Indiana Pacers in choppy 133-119 loss
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For the second time this month, the Detroit Pistons were unable to overcome a division rival.
The Pistons fell to the Indiana Pacers on the road, 133-119, to fall below .500 (23-24 overall) and conclude their road trip with a 2-3 record. They’ve dropped three consecutive games, after losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic, and finished their season series against the Pacers 1-3.
After trailing by 20 midway through the second quarter, the Pistons used a 21-7 run to cut it back to single digits, 66-60, with under two minutes to play until halftime. They never got closer than four the rest of the way, though.
A 9-2 Pistons run, led by Tobias Harris, cut it to six with seven minutes to play in the final period. Two quick Pacers buckets, the second a 3-pointer from Ben Sheppard, extended it back to double digits. Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner put the game away late with a trio of 3-pointers that extended Indiana’s lead to 18 with under two minutes to play.
With the game in reach, the Pistons shot just 8-for-23 (34.8%) in the fourth.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 32 points and nine assists on 12-for-22 shooting. Malik Beasley (20 points, 6-for-10 from 3), Harris (19 points), Jalen Duren (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Ausar Thompson (10 points) also scored in double figures.
Siakam (37 points, 15-for-21) led all scorers, and Haliburton added 30 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Isaiah Stewart was ejected early in the second quarter, following an altercation with Pacers big man Thomas Bryant that led to a flagrant-2.
Beasley rescues Pistons early with 3-point barrage
The NBA hasn’t yet named its competitors in next month’s All-Star weekend 3-point contest in San Francisco. During the first half, Beasley reminded everyone why he deserves a bid.
He provided instant offense off the bench as the Pistons faced an early 16-point deficit, 24-8, midway through the opening quarter. Beasley knocked down four of his six 3s for the night, sparking a 21-11 Pistons run that brought them within six with 46 seconds remaining in the period.
Beasley struck right as the Pacers cooled off. After opening the game shooting 11-for-14 with eight consecutive makes, Haliburton missed an open transition dunk that finally broke Indiana’s momentum.
Beasley knocked down three 3s in a row, sandwiched by a pair of missed free throws by Haliburton, before hitting a fourth 3-pointer with just under two minutes remaining on the clock to cut it to eight, 35-27.
Stewart ejected in second quarter
With 8:45 remaining in the second quarter, Stewart shoved Bryant to the ground with a hard shoulder bump, sending the Pacers center to the floor. Bryant was angry and momentarily had to be held back by teammates as officials reviewed the foul for a flagrant.
The foul was confirmed as a Flagrant-2, making it Stewart’s second technical of the night after he and veteran Pacers forward James Johnson were whistled for techs during the first quarter.
As Stewart exited the game, he energetically pointed two fingers toward the opposite end of the floor, appeared to gesture toward the crowd and popped his jersey to jeering fans sitting near the tunnels. He played just under eight minutes total, finishing with a point and an assist.
It was already a chippy game between the two teams, continuing a rivalry that started last season and heated up this season, particularly during the Pistons’ home loss to the Pacers on Jan. 16, which featured plenty of trash talk from both sides.
Wednesday’s game featured plenty of emotion on both sides as well. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr. were all whistled for techs for the Pistons, as was Turner for Indiana.
Next up: Mavericks
Matchup: Pistons (23-24) vs. Dallas (25-22).
Tipoff: 7 p.m. Friday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.