Detroit Pistons flattened by Indiana Pacers in 4Q, 121-115: Game thread recap
Detroit Pistons (15-52) vs. Indiana Pacers (30-37)
When: 7 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: 97.1 FM (Pistons radio affiliates).
Betting line: Pacers by 3½.
Injury report: Pistons — Add a new addition to the "Out" list in rookie Jaden Ivey (health and safety protocols). Isaiah Stewart and Hamidou Diallo are likely out for the season, and Bojan Bogdanovic (left Achilles tendinopathy) and Alec Burks (sore foot) remain sidelined, so look for more run for 10-day contract signee Eugene Omoruyi. Pacers — Their talented rookie Bennedict Mathurin (ankle sprain) is out, as is All-Star Tyrese Haliburton (knee bruise), Myles Turner (sore back) and T.J. McConnell (sore back).
Starting lineups: Pistons — Killian Hayes, Rodney McGruder, Isaiah Livers, Marvin Bagley III, James Wiseman; Pacers — Andrew Nembhard, Chris Duarte, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson.
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Game notes: The Pistons will try to end a 10-game losing streak with the fellow Central Division Pacers in town. They'll rematch here Monday on 313 Day, and play again at Indiana at the end of the season in April.
With Ivey out, the Pistons will get a good look at Hayes, who general manager Troy Weaver opted to take over Haliburton to lead their "restoring." Hayes, 21, is nearly 1½ years younger than Haliburton, but Hayes' inconsistent play and poor offensive scoring in Year 3 now — his 42.3 effective field goal percentage is by far the worst in the NBA — is part of the reason why the Pistons own the league's worst record, and will have the best odds at landing the No. 1 pick in May's draft lottery.
Pistons coach Dwane Casey said pregame Hayes needs to get back to how he played before the Paris game in mid-January. "I thought he was playing some of the best basketball of his career at the time, and I don’t know if it’s the emergence of Ivey but he has taken a step back. ... He still has to be aggressive and play with force and passion."
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The Pacers, 12th in the Eastern Conference, are just one game back of Washington for a surprising play-in tournament berth, but are 2-11 when Haliburton sits this season. They won the season's first meeting with the Pistons, 124-115, way back in October in Indianapolis. They'll play in Indianapolis on April 7 in the second-to-last game of the season.
Follow Pistons-Pacers updates, Round 1, below.
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Listen to "The Pistons Pulse" every Tuesday morning and on demand on freep.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. Our latest show, embedded below, examines Jaden Ivey's recent surge and more.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons lose to Indiana Pacers, 121-115: Game thread recap
