Indiana Pacers 111 – Detroit Pistons 100 (Jan. 16th, 2025) Game Recap

1. First Quarter

For the first time in 35 games, Aaron Nesmith was available for the Indiana Pacers. The starting lineup for Indiana was Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner. Saturday will be interesting because Bennedict Mathurin will be available after serving his one-game suspension. Turner got the game started by scoring the first five points. Tim Hardaway Jr. countered with nine consecutive points on three three-pointers to lift Detroit ahead 9-5. Indiana would call a timeout and go on a 15-5 run with Turner’s second three of the quarter extending the advantage to 20-14. Later in the quarter, Turner delivered his third triple to put his team ahead by a quarter high seven points with 4:13 left. The Pistons would make a run to draw within a point, but then Haliburton converted a layup in the final seconds to make it 29-26 after one quarter. Hardaway Jr. led all scorers with 12 points in the first quarter. Indiana’s leading scorer was Turner with 11 points.

2. Second Quarter

To start the second quarter, Indiana was able to quickly push its lead back to seven points with a Ben Sheppard layup. The closest that Detroit would get in the second quarter came with 8:53 remaining in the half off a Malik Beasley three-pointer that drew the Pistons within four points. The Pacers would take a nine-point lead on a couple of occasions but weren’t able to take a double-digit lead until two free throws from Turner with 5:10 left in the half. Detroit chopped its deficit down to four points again with 3:06 left in the second quarter. The Pacers would close the quarter by outscoring the Pistons 14-5 with Siakam doing a lot of the damage. He scored a total of 16 points in the quarter with half of those points coming in the final 2:52. Indiana’s halftime advantage was 69-56. Turner paced all scorers with 19 points. Just behind him was Siakam with 18 points. Detroit’s leading scorer was Hardaway Jr. with 17 points. Indiana’s defense forced 13 first half turnovers and scored 13 points off those turnovers. The Pacers held Cade Cunningham to 7 points on 2/7 shooting in the first half. As a team, Indiana was 8/16 from three-point range in the first twenty-four minutes.

3. Third Quarter

In the first half, Aaron Nesmith only played 9 minutes and scored 9 points on 3/4 shooting. He would not participate in the second half as he eases back into play. Turner picked up right where he left off in the first half by drilling a three-pointer to begin the scoring for Indiana. He would knock down another one after a Haliburton layup to extend Indiana’s advantage to 77-58 with 9:22 left in the third. Cunningham would convert a deep two-point shot to make the score 79-64. Indiana would score five straight points to take a game high twenty-point lead off an Obi Toppin layup. Indiana’s offense would stall for the next 3:10 by only scoring two points until Toppin’s three-pointer. Detroit’s defense really forced Indiana into tough shots, but the Pacers were doing the same thing to the Pistons. In the final 3:43, Detroit held Indiana to one field goal and one free-throw, but the Pistons were only able to score four points during that stretch. After thirty-six minutes of play, Indiana was on top of Detroit 92-81. Cunningham scored the most points in the quarter with nine. Haliburton led Indiana in scoring in the period with seven points. Turner continued to be the game leader in scoring with 25 points. Jalen Duren extended his double-double streak versus the Pacers to nine games going into the final quarter with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Hardaway Jr. continues to be the Pistons leading scorer despite Cunningham’s solid third quarter with 20 points.

4. Fourth Quarter

Indiana’s offensive struggles continued to start the final quarter of play, but Detroit’s did not. The Pistons scored five points cut their deficit down to six points with 9:38 left in the game. With 8:07 left in the final quarter, Siakam’s free-throw line jumper was the first field goal for Indiana since Andrew Nembhard’s midrange jump shot with 2:14 left in the third quarter. Indiana forced a turnover on the ensuing Detroit possession and Haliburton broke free for a dunk to take the momentum back. The Pistons called a timeout to calm the waters and were able to score five quick points to draw within six points again. With 4:31 left in the game, Indiana’s lead was extended back to a dozen points after two free throws from Siakam. The Pacers would be officially back in the driver’s seat when Turner knocked down his career high tying eighth three to go back ahead 105-92. Detroit would cut its deficit to single digits, but never threatened to make it a close game because Siakam knocked down a free-throw line jumper as the shot clock expired. His basket made it 109-100 with 1:37 left in the contest. Turner blocked an attempted shot by Malik Beasley, forcing the Pistons to extend the game by fouling the Pacers. They would take care of business at the free-throw line to win it 111-100.  

5. Top Performers

Myles Turner (28p, 3r, 3b, 2s), Pascal Siakam (26p, 7r, 7a, 4s), Tyrese Haliburton (17p, 8a, 4r), and Andrew Nembhard (12p, 6a. 4r, 3s). For Detroit, Tim Hardaway Jr. (25p, 4r), Cade Cunningham (20p, 9a, 4r), Jalen Duren (17p, 17r), and Tobias Harris (10p, 4r, 2s, 2s). For tonight’s full box score, click here.

6. Notes

• Indiana now 23-19 and 12-12 away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • Indiana started the season 2-11 on the road
• Indiana has won 2 od the 3 games in the season series with the final game coming on January 29th
  • The road team has won all three games of the season series thus far
• Indiana is 8-0 when Myles Turner scores 20+ points in a game this season
• Indiana has won all 7 games in 2025 by double digits
• Teams were 7-50 this year when being outrebounded by 15+ this season
• Cade Cunningham scored 20+ points for the 29th time
  • Cunningham has scored 20+ points in 8 straight games vs Indiana
• Jalen Duren has now recorded 14 double-doubles on the season
  • Duren has logged one in all three matchups vs Indiana this season
  • Duren has a double-double in nine consecutive games vs Indiana (10 career games against Indiana)
• Myles Turner has scored 20+ points in 8 games this season
• Myles Turner tied a career-high for threes in a game with 8
• Pascal Siakam has scored 20+ points in 23 games this season
• Pascal Siakam’s 16 points in the second quarter tied the most points in a quarter this season
• Pascal Siakam recorded a season high 4 steals in the win
• Tim Hardaway Jr. has scored 20+ points in 4 games this season

7. Next Up

Indiana will return home for one game before heading to Paris for two games against the San Antonio Spurs. On Saturday night, the Pacers will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mark Boyle and Eddie Gill will have the play-by-play at 7pm and Pay Boylan will get things started at 6:30pm with the pregame show on 93.5/107.5 The Fan.