Game Rewind: Pacers 112, Pistons 104

March 15, 20143:07 AM EDT

112
104

Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 7:30 PM ET at Palace of Auburn Hills

Game Rewind: Pacers 112, Pistons 104 (OT)

Pacers.com Staff | March 15, 2014

Game Recap

This one may leave a mark, in a good way. The first half was a mess for the Pacers, who were completing their 18th set of back-to-backs of the season. Their defense struggled getting stops in the first half, as they gave up 60 points. Then, they went to the locker room. Their defense struggled getting stops, and thus they gave up 60 first-half points. Then, they went to the locker room and got an earful from the typically calm and positive coach Frank Vogel.

The Pacers, who trailed by as many as 25, rallied back from 19-point hole at the half to beat the Pistons (25-41), 112-104, though it took an extra session to do so. The Pacers (49-17) clamped down on defense, took care of the ball and each player made an impact as they move to 4-0 on the season in overtime games.

Despite shooting poorly, the Pacers went ahead 10-9 when Pistons center Andre Drummond took a blow to the head and went down to the ground for about five minutes. The entire time, he held his head and then needed assistance off of court. Over the final 6:32 of the first quarter, the Pistons, who have lost five of their last six games, outscored the Pacers 20-10, including a 10-2 spurt. Just 12 minutes in and the Pacers had surrendered 20 paint points and eight in transition.

The Pistons continue to add to their lead in the second period by shooting 60 percent and playing with more spirit than the Pacers. A putback slam from Jonas Jerebko gave the Pistons’ their largest lead, 25, late in the first half. The Pacers got nine points in the frame from Andrew Bynum, and they ended the half on a 10-4 spurt to cut the game to 19 at intermission.

“We got find our will to get some stops, come together, show some heart, show some guts,” Pacers vocal assistant Dan Burke said in a halftime interview on FOX Sports Indiana. “Not sleepwalk."

After the players were reminded what they’re playing for, they returned to the floor and ripped off eight straight points to open the half. Paul George had a huge quarter, scoring 14 of his game-high 30 points in the third and he was doing it from all over: at the rim, beyond the arc, and at the line. The Pacers kept climbing back, and trailed by just six points entering the fourth after using a 9-2 spurt to close the third.

With George Hill in foul trouble in the team short of point guards, Evan Turner stepped up and was the difference maker in the fourth. He scored 10 points, including a shot long-range shot that gave Indiana its first lead since 12-11. David West tacked on two with a layup and then Lance Stephenson drained an outside shot.

After Roy Hibbert sank a foul-line jumper, Pistons forward answered with a layup to knot the game up at 100 with 22.2 seconds remaining. Isolated with Kyle Singler defending, George fired up a 16-footer but missed short, sending the game into over time.

Carrying their momentum into the five-minute period, West hit all three of his jumpers and then Stephenson solidified the win with a crafty left-handed layup. The Pacers overcame a horrible first half in what is their largest comeback victory of the season, and they’ll need every one of them in their mission for the No. 1 seed in the East.

Inside the Numbers

It was a total team effort, and the stats only tell you the half of it. Six Pacers finished with 12 or more points, led by Paul George’s 30 — his 11th 30-plus point night this season. Evan Turner scored 20 points and 30 minutes, his second 20-point performance with the Pacers. Andrew Bynum just missed a double-double, with 15 points, nine rebounds and only one turner. Lance Stephenson had 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Josh Smith scored 14 of his team-high 23 in the opening period. With 17 points and 13 rebounds, Greg Monroe posted his 28th double-double of the season. Brandon Jennings had 10 points and 12 assists and Rodney Stuckey added 19 points off the pine.

Down 60-41 at half, the Pacers held the Pistons to 21 percent shooting (12-for-58) the rest of the way and outscored them, 71-44.

The Pacers dominated the boards after the first half, plus-18 for the game. They pulled down 13 offensive boards and scored 15 second-chance points over the final two quarters plus overtime.

The win is Indiana’s first (1-3 this season) on the second night of consecutive games with both on the road. They up their record to 10-8 playing with zero days rest.

Quoteworthy

"Really proud of our guys. I did not like the deficit we built especially in that first half, but we stayed with the game and came back with better energy to fight back. Our playmaking late in the game helped us to come out with a W.” – Frank Vogel

“The thing that impressed me the most was that everybody that stepped foot on the court contributed big time. They all made big plays. … It was a good team win.” – Frank Vogel

"This game especially can create some momentum for us. This was a back-to-back win on an opponent's floor and against a team that beat us on our floor, so we had a lot of motivation coming into this game tonight and we're happy we just got a win." – Paul George

“Coach really got into us at halftime. It was a great speech, motivated us and we went out and just played harder.” – Andrew Bynum

“I think the biggest thing in this locker room is belief and a high standard. Coach challenged us and the team stepped up and we all stuck together. Nobody tried to do it by themselves.” – Evan Turner

"When it became a close game in the fourth, our bench did an unbelievable job and guys came in and just played. They took the fight to them, made all of the plays and got us back in the game.” – David West on the bench play

Stat of the Game

The Pacers committed just 10 turnovers, three coming over the final 29 minutes and none in overtime.

Noteworthy

The Pacers have won four straight games in Detroit.
Luis Scola and Greg Monroe were issued double technicals midway through the fourth.
Andre Drummond did not return to the game after a blow to the head and tests on his neck were negative.
C.J. Watson (right hamstring strain) and Ian Mahinmi (bruised left rib) were held out.

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