Pistons-Pacers Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Jan 30 2013 1:30AM

The Indiana Pacers have relied on stingy defense all season long. That defense has recently let them down, however, as they've matched a season worst with three straight losses.

The Pacers might be poised to end that skid Wednesday night as they host a Detroit Pistons team that has lost eight straight in Indianapolis.

Indiana (26-19) is mired in its longest losing streak since Nov. 5-9, but hopes a return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse will help. The Pacers, 16-3 at home, have reeled off 11 consecutive victories in Indianapolis, their longest home winning streak since claiming 14 in a row from Nov. 28, 2002-Jan. 26, 2003.

The Pistons (17-28), conversely, are one of the league's worst road teams at 5-16, and haven't won in Indianapolis since Jan. 29, 2008.

Indiana's defense has been one of the league's best allowing 90.2 points per game, but it's surrendered 100 or more points in each of its last three. It allowed opponents to reach triple digits only six times in its first 42 games.

The Pacers put together one of their best defensive showings of the season in their lone meeting with Detroit, limiting the Pistons to 38.6 percent shooting in an 88-77 road win on Dec. 15.

The Pacers, who are 2-13 when giving up at least 96 points, are also allowing opponents to shoot 52.3 percent during their skid - compared to 42.0 percent on the season.

In Monday's 102-101 loss to Denver, Andre Iguodala converted the go-ahead free throw with 0.4 seconds left. Paul George had the ball stripped from him on the previous play while trying to set up for a last-second shot, then was called for a foul when he and Iguodala went after the ensuing Denver inbounds pass.

It washed away a comeback effort that brought the Pacers back from a 14-point deficit with less than seven minutes to play.

"We did a good job of fighting back under the circumstances," said David West, who is the team's second-leading scorer at 16.8 ppg. "We were right there. We had opportunities. We just didn't get a chance to decide it. You just don't expect a whistle to be blown in that situation."

As bad as Indiana's defense has been lately, Detroit's has been even worse.

The Pistons are allowing an average of 109.7 points in their last three games - 13.1 worse than their season average. They've been particularly weak inside, surrendering 55.3 points in the paint after giving up 42.9 on the season.

Rookie Andrew Drummond was one of few highlights for Detroit in a 117-90 home loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday. In 28 minutes, he finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds, joining Dwight Howard as the only teenagers since 1985-86 to have an 18-18 game.

The Pistons led by 15 late in the first quarter but were outscored 78-40 over the game's final 25 minutes.

"It doesn't really matter what I did tonight - we lost the game," said Drummond who leads all first-year players with 7.6 rpg and is second in blocks with 1.6 per game. "I'm just worried about bouncing back tomorrow against Indiana."

The Pistons will have to do a better job against West than they did in the first meeting, as he finished with a game-high 23 points on 11-of-16 shooting.

Hibbert has double-double as Pacers beat Pistons

By JIM JOHNSON
Posted Jan 30 2013 11:06PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Detroit Pistons played in shock while their former teammates watched from the locker room.

Just before tipoff at Indiana, forwards Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye found out they wouldn't play for the Pistons again.

"Shocked obviously," Prince said after the game. "I didn't find out, obviously, until I got here. I'm shocked, but it's a business and you never know what's going to happen."

What happened is after 10 1/2 seasons with the Pistons, including an NBA championship, Prince is being traded along with Daye to Memphis.

Roy Hibbert had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead Indiana to a 98-79 win over Detroit on Wednesday night, snapping a three-game skid in the Pacers' return from a four-game road trip.

David West scored 14 points and Lance Stephenson added 12 points and 11 boards for the Pacers.

Greg Monroe had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Rodney Stuckey scored 14 points for the Pistons, who have lost four of the last five.

Prince and Daye, listed as inactive before the game, are part of the three-team trade that will send them to the Grizzlies, with Jose Calderon coming to the Pacers from Toronto and Memphis sending Rudy Gay to the Raptors.

"(Pistons President Joe Dumars) felt horrible that it had to be right before the game," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. "This is the tough part of the business."

Frank got a call from Dumars about the trade before the game started while Prince, Daye and teammates learned of the trade before tipoff.

"I knew this would be a tough game for them to play today," Prince said. "I've been in situations before where guys got traded and it's tough to go out there and play that game. Now it's time to move on to the next page, the next chapter and make the best out of it."

Stephenson scored eight points as the Pacers went on an 18-2 run in the second quarter to take a 54-36 lead at halftime.

"I'm proud of our guys coming back off a trip and taking care of business," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "We had an edge which is important when you have a losing streak."

The Pistons had to find a way to make up for the difference. Prince started every game this season and averaged 11.3 points. Still, they couldn't withstand Indiana's second quarter run.

"They did a good job of getting a lead early," Monroe said. "We were able to fight back and make a few runs at them. I was proud of our effort in doing that."

The Pacers led 29-23 at the end of the first quarter, but the Pistons got back to within two points midway through the second quarter when Will Bynum hit a jumper to make it 36-34 before the Pacers went on a run.

Stephenson had a layup to start the 18-2 run and hit a 3-pointer after Hibbert made two free throws. West and Hibbert had baskets to put the Pacers up 47-34 with 2:50 remaining in the half.

Stephenson added a layup and then had a steal and was fouled by Monroe. Stephenson made 1 of 2 free throws before Hibbert scored to give the Pacers their 18-point lead at the break.

The Pacers edge didn't come from playing an emotionally stricken Pistons team, they were simply frustrated with the three losses on the road.

"To be honest with you, we came in here and weren't happy about the losses we got on the road," Indiana's Tyler Hansbrough said. "We just figured a way out to get the win, and that was defensively."

The Pacers jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the game. West scored twice along with Stephenson and Hibbert.

The Pistons missed six straight shots and two free throws before they finally got on the board with a free throw by Brandon Knight on a defensive 3-second technical and then Stuckey scored to make it 6-3.

The Pacers pulled away again and went on an 8-0 run.

West and Stephenson scored again and Hill hit a 3-pointer and later a free throw to make it 14-7 midway through the first quarter.

Stuckey, who scored 12 points in the first quarter, ended the run with a shot to put the Pistons back within seven. Hibbert dunked, but Stuckey answered with another shot.

Later he hit a 3-pointer to pull the Pistons to 24-21.

The Pistons made a run in the third quarter, but never cut the deficit below nine points.

Hibbert scored early in the third before the Pistons went on a 9-2 run.

NOTES: Pacers president Donnie Walsh said Indiana hasn't been involved in talks with center Greg Oden as reported and that the team hasn't been approached. ... Pacers forward Paul George was recognized before the game for being the youngest player in franchise history for becoming an All-Star. ... Kyle Singler started in place of Prince, who was with the Pistons since the 2002-03 season.

Notebook: Pacers 98, Pistons 79

Conrad Brunner, For NBA.com
Posted Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:02 PM - Updated Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:02 PM

THE FACTS: On a night when the Pistons severed their final tie with the recent past, they were reminded of the reality of the present. Tayshaun Prince, the final member of the 2004 championship team, along with youngster Austin Daye, are headed to Memphis in a three-team trade that will bring point guard Jose Calderon to Detroit. Without any of that crew, the Indiana Pacers reminded the Pistons of their 2013 reality with a 98-79 win Wednesday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It was the fourth loss in five games for the Pistons (17-29), who dropped to 5-17 on the road. The Pacers (27-19) snapped a three-game losing streak by winning their 12th in a row at home, where they will play 12 of their next 15 games. Indiana got double-doubles from three players: Roy Hibbert (18 points, 11 rebounds), Tyler Hansbrough (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Lance Stephenson (12 points, 11 rebounds). Greg Monroe led the Pistons (17-29) with 18 points.

QUOTABLE: "I think everyone was surprised that [the trade] took place right before the game. [Pistons president] Joe Dumars called me and I knew how much it hurt him. Tayshaun has been a part of the Pistons' family for 10 years. Throughout the time all those tight-woven relationships have developed, and I know that Joe felt horrible right before the game. But, for Tayshaun, I'm eternally grateful for his professionalism and how he handled himself. Obviously, with the championship and redefining himself, he became a very good role player and a captain for the team. I wish both Tayshaun and Austin the best of luck."

-- Detroit coach Lawrence Frank

THE STAT: The Pacers beat the Pistons for the ninth consecutive time at home, their second-longest active streak (Washington, 10). The Pistons' last win in Indianapolis came in 2008.

TURNING POINT: With the reserves on the floor, Detroit cut the deficit to 36-34 midway through the second quarter but Indiana's starters returned and took over the game, finishing the half on an 18-2 run to push the lead to 54-36. Detroit was 1-for-8 with three turnovers in the final 5:52 of the half. Hibbert and Stephenson combined for 14 of the Indiana points in the run.

QUOTABLE II: "We're not happy with how we've played on the road. We need to make up for it with this string of home games. If you're not going to be a .500 team on the road you need to be better than good at home, and so far we have been."

-- Indiana coach Frank Vogel

HOT: All five Indiana starters scored in double figures for the seventh time this season with all but Paul George hitting at least half their shots. Monroe shot 8-for-17 and Will Bynum 6-for-12 off the bench for the Pistons.

NOT: George was uncharacteristically cool, hitting 3-for-11, including 1-for-4 from the 3-point line, and committing six turnovers. Andre Drummond pulled 14 rebounds but shot 2-for-10 from the tree-throw line, missing his last seven in a row.

QUOTABLE III: "I was shocked, obviously. I knew that this was going to be a tough game for these guys to play, tough circumstances. For me, it's definitely a tough time but now it's time for me to go on to the next page and make the most of it. I thought things were starting to go well here as of late, I thought the last month we were making strides. It's intriguing because I think about the last two weeks seeing where Rudy Gay wanted out and I never thought I'd be a part of it."

-- Tayshaun Prince

NOTABLE: Word of the trade leaked an hour before the game but was not announced by the Pistons until the fourth quarter. Toronto received Gay from Memphis, with the Grizzlies acquiring Ed Davis and a second-round pick from Toronto as well as Prince and Day. Frank said he was not sure when Calderon would join the Pistons. ... After yielding averages of 105.3 points, 52.3 shooting and 53.3 points in the paint in the three-game losing streak, the Pacers held Detroit to 79 points, 36.4 percent shooting and 38 points in the paint. ... Tonight marked Vogel's two-year anniversary as coach. He replaced Jim O'Brien on Jan. 30, 2011 and has gone 89-61. "It seems like a long time," Vogel said, "But in some ways it seems like yesterday." ... Danny Granger is increasing the frequency and intensity of his workouts but has not yet been cleared for full contact. Vogel said he hopes the forward, out all season with left knee tendinosis, could be in uniform before the All-Star break "but there are no guarantees." ... Hansbrough's double-double was his first of the season. ... Stephenson's 11 rebounds were a career-high. ... This was the eighth time the Pacers held an opponent to fewer than 80 points, and the 18th time an opponent has shot less than 40 percent (.364). ... Rodney Stuckey, who stepped into the starting lineup due to the Prince trade, scored 12 points in the first quarter but just two thereafter.

UP NEXT: For the Pacers, Friday vs. Miami, Monday vs. Chicago, Tuesday vs. Atlanta. For the Pistons, Friday vs. Cleveland, Sunday vs. L.A. Lakers, Monday at New York.

• Pistons: Daye, Prince
• Pacers: Granger, Young

• Pistons: --
• Pacers: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Officials: #36 David Jones, #14 Ed Malloy, #45 Brian Forte
• Attendance: 12137
• Duration: 2:10