Pistons Use Balanced Attack To Rout Pacers, 118-96
AUBURN HILLS (AP) — Reggie Jackson had 21 points and nine assists to lead a balanced attack as the Detroit Pistons routed the Indiana Pacers 118-96 on Saturday night.
Ersan Ilyasova added 20 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 18 points, a career-high eight assists and seven rebounds. Six Pistons scored in double figures, while Andre Drummond had eight points and 11 rebounds.
George Hill led the Pacers with 14 points, while Paul George finished with 13 on 4-of-16 shooting, missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
Detroit has won six of eight, including five in a row at home, while the Pacers lost for the fourth time in five games.
The teams traded the lead for much of the first half, but Jackson, Caldwell-Pope and Ilyasova hit three straight 3-pointers late in the second quarter to jump Detroit's advantage to 63-51.
The Pacers made a quick run, but Jackson's fallaway jumper at the buzzer gave Detroit a 65-55 lead at the half. Four Pistons starters were in double figures, led by Jackson's 13 points.
The Pacers shot 57.5 percent from the floor in the half, but only had one offensive rebound and turned the ball over nine times, leading to 19 Detroit points.
Detroit, on the other hand, was 8 of 15 on 3-pointers in the half, with six players making at least one. The Pistons kept the pressure on at the start of the third quarter, quickly building a 79-60 lead on Ilyasova's layup.
Indiana slowed Detroit enough to get within 86-71 late in the period, leading Stan Van Gundy to call a timeout. The Pistons responded with a 16-4 run to take a 102-75 lead with a minute left in the third quarter.
Detroit finished with 37 points in the third and cruised to an easy victory.
TIP INS
Pacers: George picked up a third-quarter technical for arguing a foul call. . Indiana is hoping to get Myles Turner back from a fractured left thumb after New Year's.
Pistons: After getting outscored 43-2 in the teams' first meeting, the Detroit bench had 14 points in the first half, including a pair of 3-pointers by Steve Blake.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Toronto on Monday.
Pistons: Host Clippers on Monday.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.