Young, Bogdanovic lead Pacers past Pistons

[April 02, 2019]  Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic led a balanced attack with 19 points apiece and the host Indiana Pacers topped the Detroit Pistons 111-102 on Monday.

Young also had nine rebounds and five assists, while Bogdanovic racked up seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Domantas Sabonis delivered 18 points and 12 rebounds off the bench before fouling out.

Pacers center Myles Turner had 17 points, six rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Tyreke Evans added 13 points and Doug McDermott chipped in 11.

Wayne Ellington led the Pistons with a season-best 26 points. Reggie Jackson supplied 22 points, six rebounds and four assists while Andre Drummond contributed 18 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Thon Maker added 14 points, six rebounds and four blocks.

Both teams were dealing with injury issues.

Pistons All-Star forward Blake Griffin missed his second consecutive game with a sore knee. Key reserve Luke Kennard was sidelined by a sore right foot. The Pacers usual starting backcourt of Darren Collison (groin) and Wesley Matthews (hamstring) also sat out.

Sabonis and Young combined for 29 first-half points as the Pacers grabbed a 59-55 halftime lead. Ellington scored 15 points for the Pistons, who were outscored 36-22 in the second quarter.

Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) dunks against Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) during the first quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Early in the third, Jackson made two layups during a 9-0 Pistons spurt that put them on top 68-67. Indiana regained the lead with a 9-0 run of its own late in the quarter. Turner had five of those points, including a 3-pointer to give his club an 83-77 advantage in the period's final minute.

The Pacers led 87-80 entering the fourth. Aaron Holiday made a jumper in the opening minute to stretch the advantage to nine. The Pistons crept within two but the Pacers regained the nine-point lead with 8:04 left on a McDermott 3.

McDermott scored again 33 seconds later to make it 98-87. After Detroit came within seven, Bogdanovic's 3 with 2:39 left ended any suspense.

The Central Division rivals will square off again on Wednesday in Detroit.

--Field Level Media

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