Drop, Flop, and GYATT! DETvsIND 1/16/25
The Pistons get lapped by a scorching-hot Pacers team
The Pistons and Pacers were two of the NBA’s hottest teams in 2025, but the latter burned brighter at LCA, beating the home team 111-100. Despite continued sniping from Tim Hardaway Jr. (4-9 from deep) and Duren’s perfect double-double (8-8 from the field), Detroit’s 19 turnovers to 22 assists, poor shooting (39% from the field and 25% from deep), and inability to contain Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam ultimately cost them the game.
DROP
Duren dropped 17 points and 17 boards, giving the Pistons a fighting chance at the dub. Most of his 6 offensive rebounds came from putbacks on Cunningham’s missed layups. This man should have a Windex sponsorship because he was a one-man clean-up crew on the glass!
Down 13 points with 3 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Pistons desperately needed a bucket, and JD stepped up big time. Considering most of Duren’s buckets come from lobs and dimes around the basket, we don’t usually expect him to put it on the deck and take it to the hole. Fortunately, neither did Myles Turner, who could only foul Jalen on his way to the basket for much-needed and-1. Props to Jalen who did exactly what I do when I misplace my cell phone: he called his own number.
FLOP
The story of the night, as has been a trend with the young Pistons squad, was turnovers. Due to his usage, and maybe a little fatigue from the recent all-star press run, Cade was painfully loose with the ball, but his vets weren’t any better. Tobias, Beasley, and Hardaway Jr. also combined for 7 giveaways. Hardly the stabilizing presence the Pistons needed from their elder statesmen.
Early in the game, THJ got off to a blistering start, sinking 3 threes in just over a minute. But there were a few instances, like this clip, where the sharpshooter passed up good looks and tried to do too much by a pump faking or driving for a contested middy. In the immortal words of Avril Lavigne, “Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?”
The Pacers racked up 13 steals to the Pistons’ 3, but the vets had nobody to blame but themselves for this missed connection on the fast break. Whether you fault Malik’s sloppy pass or Harris’s butterfingers, the result was the same. Yet another turnover.
These unforced errors proved more costly than a Bud Light at LCA. In the second quarter, the home crowd cringed as Tobias dribbled off his foot, losing the ball out of bounds. I’d tell him to kick rocks, but he’s clearly already got that covered.
GYATT!
Even though Cunningham put up 20 points, 9 assists, and 4 boards, he wasn’t efficient (35% from the field and 15% from distance) and he turned the ball over 7 times. With 6 minutes to go in the fourth, the Pistons cut the Pacers’ lead to 6. Andrew Nembhard, who was a pest all game, came up with a steal, but Deuce refused to let him capitalize. He never gave up on the play, chasing down Nemby and swatting his layup attempt off his own arm. Detroit basketball. Cade must drive stick, because that shit was clutch.
The Pistons lost to the Pacers on opening night and later creamed them 130-106 in the NBA Cup Group stage. It would have been nice to beat them again on Thursday and advance to the 6th seed, but they’ll have a chance to redeem themselves in Indianapolis on the 29th. Considering how chippy things got in Detroit, that should be one hell of a game as the Pistons try to even the score with their Midwestern rivals. All they have to do is take care of the ball and figure out how to guard stretch bigs…