Shorthanded Pacers topple Detroit Pistons for second-straight win

The Pacers beat the Pistons Friday night in spite of the injury report

The Indiana Pacers were without many key players on Saturday night, but they were still able to take down the Detroit Pistons.

All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, as well as center Myles Turner and reserve guard T.J. McConnell, was out for this game due to injury and did not play. Haliburton and Turner typically start, so youngsters Isaiah Jackson and Chris Duarte opened the game for the Pacers.

That worked out well as the team jumped out to a 33-22 lead early. Buddy Hield, Indiana's only veteran rotation player who was available, had seven points and five rebounds in the first quarter to help set the tone.

The Pacers success continued with a strong second quarter. Even with a wildly changed rotation that featured James Johnson and George Hill, the blue and gold looked like the far better team through two quarters. They led by 12 at the break.

Things went sideways for the Pacers in the third quarter. They went 2/14 from deep while the Pistons made half of their three-point looks, and Detroit found a groove offensively. The home team started the quarter on a 20-8 run and erased the entire lead. The game was tied up at 90 with 12 minutes to go after a late third quarter bucket from Eugene Omoruyi.

The early part of the final frame would be key in a tight game, and the Pacers took advantage. They were up by nine after six minutes of the quarter in large part thanks to impressive play from Jalen Smith, who had 11 points in the fourth. The Pistons tried to claw their way back, but they couldn't pull it off. Indiana won 121-115.

It was the third win of the season for the Pacers in which Tyrese Haliburton didn't play. It has been tough for the blue and gold to pick up wins in that situation before, but they found a way against the lowly Pistons on Saturday.

Indiana is now 31-37 and just half a game out of the play-in tournament. If they win on Monday in Detroit, they will move into tenth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

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