Detroit Pistons Continue Shocking Hot Streak, Dismantle Indiana Pacers, 127-112
Someone needs to check the water in Detroit, because the Pistons are on a tear that absolutely nobody saw coming. On Monday night, they notched their tenth straight victory, handling the Indiana Pacers with a cool 127-112 final score. That’s right, ten in a row.
They have done this for the first time since the 2007-08 season, when your favorite player was probably still in middle school. The Pistons are the hottest ticket in the league. And they did it again while being held together by what feels like duct tape and sheer willpower.
No Cade, No Tobias, No Problem For Detroit
Heading into this game, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Pistons were in trouble. They were playing without a laundry list of key players, including their cornerstone Cade Cunningham (hip), veteran sharpshooter Tobias Harris (ankle), and the high-flying Ausar Thompson (ankle). It looked like a classic “trap game” against a struggling opponent. But this Pistons team apparently didn’t get the memo.
Instead, it was Jalen Duren’s coming-out party. Returning from an ankle injury that had him sidelined, Duren looked like a man possessed. He dropped a career-high 31 points, playing with a ferocity that screamed, “I’m back!” He was a force in the paint, a nightmare on the boards, and the engine that powered Detroit all night. It was the kind of performance that makes you wonder if his ankle just needed a break to charge up.
And let’s talk about Daniss Jenkins. The rookie guard stepped up massively, pouring in 26 points and looking like a seasoned vet, not a guy still figuring out the NBA travel schedule. With the big names on the bench, Jenkins and Duren put the team on their backs and basically dared the Pacers to stop them. Spoiler alert: they couldn’t.
How the Pistons Put the Pacers Away
The first quarter was a tight affair, with both teams trading blows. The Pacers, desperate for a win, hung around thanks to some timely shooting from Pascal Siakam. But as the second quarter kicked off, Detroit flipped a switch. They ripped off a blistering 20-4 run that blew the game wide open. Duren was a monster during this stretch, scoring eight points and making the Pacers’ defense look like a set of traffic cones.
Just when it looked like a full-scale blowout, Indiana showed some fight. Benedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard helped string together a 12-point run to cut the deficit. But every time the Pacers got close, the Pistons had an answer. A three-pointer from Duncan Robinson here, a tough bucket from Javonte Green there. By halftime, Detroit had re-established a comfortable 62-46 lead.
The second half was more of the same. The Pacers would make a push, but the Pistons, even with their B-squad, just had too much firepower and confidence. Siakam did his best to keep Indiana in it, finishing with a team-high 29 points, but it was a solo act against a Detroit chorus. Five Pistons scored in double figures, including a 20-point explosion from Javonte Green off the bench. It was a total team effort from a squad that refuses to lose.
What’s Next For These Two Teams?
For the Pistons, the sky’s the limit. At 12-2, they’re sitting pretty atop the Eastern Conference, and they’re doing it with a “next man up” mentality that should terrify the rest of the league. What happens when they get Cunningham and Harris back? It’s a scary thought. They’ll look to make it eleven straight when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
As for the Pacers? Yikes. Last year’s NBA finalists have cratered to a league-worst 1-13 record. This loss marks their eighth straight, and they’re now 0-8 on the road. The talent is there, but something is fundamentally broken. They need to figure it out, and fast, before their season is completely lost. Their quest for a win continues Tuesday in Atlanta against the Hawks.
