Preview: Pistons at Pacers

[March 08, 2017]  The Detroit Pistons have a shot at climbing another rung in the Eastern Conference ladder when they visit the struggling Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. While the Pacers have dropped nine of 12, the Pistons are 10-5 in their last 15 games and enter this one a game behind sixth-place Indiana in the East.

Reggie Jackson had his second straight solid effort after a long slump by scoring 24 of his 26 points in the second half to propel Detroit to a 109-95 win over Chicago on Monday. "At times, you start feeling sorry for yourself," Jackson told reporters. "You can't do that. You've just got to go out here and play - good, bad or indifferent." After losing six in a row, the Pacers have exchanged wins and losses over another six-game span. A 100-88 loss at Charlotte on Monday ended a 2-3 road trip and marked the third game in a row in which Indiana was held below 100 points.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Detroit, FSN Indiana

ABOUT THE PISTONS (31-32): Jackson is averaging 23.5 points while making 20-of-30 shots over his last two games following a four-game span in which he averaged 9.8 points. He was early in what was a roughly one-month slump when he shot 3-of-11 and scored seven points in a 105-84 loss at Indiana on Feb. 4. Center Andre Drummond's streak of consecutive double-doubles ended at five in the win over Chicago but he entered Tuesday tied for fifth in the NBA with 42.

ABOUT THE PACERS (32-31): Indiana managed only three attempts at the foul line in the loss to Charlotte, a franchise low. "Three free throws is not good at all," coach Nate McMillan told the media. "(But) I think they do a good job of defending the paint and playing D without fouling." Leading scorer Paul George (36 points) did not attempt a single free throw but still managed to top 30 points for the second game in a row.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pacers F C.J. Miles has attempted 27 3-pointers over his last three contests, making 11 of them.

2. Pistons F Tobias Harris is averaging 16.6 points in 28.9 minutes as a reserve, compared to 15.9 in 33.2 minutes as a starter.

3. George is averaging 26.3 points while shooting 57.7 percent in three meetings with Detroit this season.

PREDICTION: Pacers 104, Pistons 102

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