Preview: Pacers at Pistons
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[November 08, 2017]
The Detroit Pistons are off to
their best start this decade and look to keep it going when they
host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Detroit's 7-3 start marks its
best season-opening 10-game stretch since posting the same record in
2008-09.
Indiana routinely has handled the Pistons lately, winning the last
six meetings - including all four last season. The Pacers are
limping into Detroit with a three-game losing streak after suffering
a 117-112 home loss against New Orleans on Tuesday to drop one game
below .500. "We have to do a better job when teams make
adjustments," Indiana shooting guard Victor Oladipo told reporters
after the setback. "We kind of withered away in the second half. And
as a leader, I have to make sure we're ready to play in both halves,
so this one's on me." Forward Tobias Harris has helped fuel
Detroit's strong start with a team-best 19.1 points and is shooting
45.9 percent from 3-point range, well above last year's mark of
34.7.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE PACERS (5-6): Indiana had no answers on how to slow New
Orleans big men Anthony Davis (37 points) and DeMarcus Cousins (32),
but its offensive fade was just as troublesome. The Pacers blistered
the Pelicans for 75 first-half points while building a 14-point lead
and then scored just 37 in the second half during a collapse that
frustrated coach Nate McMillan. "We needed to be the aggressors in
the second half and we came out flat," McMillan told reporters. "Our
guards have to establish the tempo, and that's fair to say both
ways. When teams are making a run, I only have so many timeouts.
This is where we are. We have to grow, and this can't continue."
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ABOUT THE PISTONS (7-3): Standout center Andre Drummond has recorded
seven double-doubles and collected at least 12 rebounds in each game
while averaging 14 points and 14.7 boards. The 24-year-old also has
improved his free-throw shooting (75 percent compared to 38.6 last
season) and passing (2.7 assists to 1.1), and the transformation
pleases tough-to-impress coach Stan Van Gundy. "I just want his
mentality to stay even keel," Van Gundy told reporters while
discussing the fact Drummond recorded 16 points, 19 rebounds, four
assists and three steals in Saturday's 108-99 victory over
Sacramento. "I saw a big step forward in terms of his maturity the
other night, and if he stays with that and he's playing a lot harder
on a more consistent basis, I thought that was really, really good."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Indiana's four victories over the Pistons last season were by an
average of 14.5 points.
2. Pacers PF Domantas Sabonis (calf) sat out Tuesday and is unlikely
to play against the Pistons.
3. Detroit SF Stanley Johnson (hip) is questionable to play
Wednesday, while PF Jon Leuer (ankle) could miss his third straight
game.
PREDICTION: Pistons 109, Pacers 99
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