The Detroit Pistons delivered one in all their best offensive performances of the season Sunday, defeating the Indiana Pacers 133-121 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Detroit, already locked into the Japanese Convention’s high seed, improved to 60-22 whereas extending its profitable streak to a few video games and constructing momentum forward of the playoffs.
Paul Reed anchored the efficiency with a flawless capturing show, ending with 26 factors on 11-for-11 from the sector whereas including six rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
Tobias Harris complemented that effort with 24 factors on 9-of-12 capturing, together with an ideal 4-for-4 from three-point vary in simply 22 minutes.
The Pistons established management early by tempo and spacing, producing high-percentage appears to be like and capitalizing on defensive breakdowns.
Detroit shot 56% from the sector total and caught hearth within the first half, scoring a season-high 81 factors earlier than halftime.
Cade Cunningham orchestrated the offense regardless of restricted scoring, ending with seven factors, eight rebounds and 14 assists whereas persistently creating open photographs for teammates.
The Pistons’ ball motion led to 35 assists on 50 made area objectives, reflecting a balanced assault with a number of scoring choices.
Indiana struggled to include dribble penetration and transition alternatives, permitting Detroit to construct a double-digit lead halfway by the second quarter.
A 13-0 run adopted by a 9-0 surge pushed the benefit to 81-63 at halftime, forcing the Pacers into catch-up mode.
Detroit prolonged the margin to 90-66 early within the third quarter, sustaining management by attacking the paint and changing effectively on the rim.
Obi Toppin and Quenton Jackson led Indiana with 21 factors every, whereas the group shot 46% from the sector and 43% from three-point vary.
Regardless of strong perimeter capturing, the Pacers couldn’t match Detroit’s inside effectivity or defensive exercise.
The sport turned chippy late when Jalen Slawson was ejected after a blindside collision with Isaiah Stewart, resulting in a short confrontation between each benches.
Indiana, which completed the season 19-63, closed with the bottom win complete in franchise historical past and can now shift focus to the NBA Draft Lottery.
Earlier than the sport, Tyrese Haliburton addressed followers after lacking your entire season as a result of an Achilles damage sustained in final yr’s NBA Finals, signaling progress towards a return subsequent season.
Detroit’s 60-win marketing campaign marks its first because the 2005-06 season and solely the third in franchise historical past.
The highest-seeded Pistons will now await their first-round opponent, coming into the postseason with one of many league’s best offenses and constant ball motion.
