Field Level Media
Nov 17, 2021
Jerami Grant had 19 points and reserve Cory Joseph supplied a season-high 18 as the host Detroit Pistons downed the Indiana Pacers 97-89 on Wednesday.
Cade Cunningham had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Saddiq Bey contributed 15 points and six rebounds for Detroit. Frank Jackson added 11 points off the bench.
Malcolm Brogdon topped Indiana with 20 points. Caris LeVert added 18 points, while Domantas Sabonis tossed in 15 points with 11 rebounds. Torrey Craig had 10 points off the bench.
The Pacers committed 18 turnovers, leading to 20 Detroit points. The Pistons had a 36-28 edge in bench points in their fourth win of the year.
Indiana's Chris Duarte, who entered the night third among all NBA rookies in scoring, was inactive due to a shoulder injury.
The Pistons led 24-21 after the first quarter behind Cunningham's seven points. They were up 49-41 at halftime thanks to an active defensive effort in which they forced 14 turnovers, leading to 17 points.
Joseph was the only Detroit player in double figures with 10 points, while Brogdon led the Pacers with 14 first-half points. Neither team held a double-digit lead before the break.
Grant changed that 12 seconds into the third quarter with two free throws to make it 51-41. A Killian Hayes layup gave Detroit an 11-point edge, but the Pacers responded with a 13-2 run to tie it. Sabonis finished off the run with a layup.
Indiana had a lead later in the quarter, but the Pistons tied it at 73 heading into the fourth.
The Pacers began the final quarter with a 6-0 spurt, including two buckets by Craig. The Pistons gradually recovered and regained the lead with 5:47 to go on a Joseph 3-pointer off a Cunningham pass.
A 3-pointer by Jackson off another Cunningham feed made it 90-85.
LeVert's 3-pointer with 2:40 left pulled Indiana within two points. Grant then made two free throws and a jumper to give Detroit some breathing room.
--Field Level Media