Game Rewind: Pacers 105, Pistons 90

After disappointing back-to-back losses in Miami and New Orleans earlier this week, the Indiana Pacers bounced back on Saturday night to close out their three-game road trip on a winning note. The Pacers (14-14) cruised to a 105-90 win over the Detroit Pistons (14-15) in the first meeting of the season between the two Central Division rivals.

The Pistons led for most of the first quarter, extending the margin to as many as seven points. But the Pacers rallied, eventually taking the lead after Paul George knocked down a 3-pointer just before the first quarter buzzer sounded.

The momentum from George's three carried over into the second quarter, as Indiana opened the period with a 10-2 run. Al Jefferson provided a big boost off the bench over that stretch, scoring six points to help the visitors seize control of the game.

The Blue & Gold remained in front for the rest of the half and scored the final six points of the quarter to take the first double-digit lead for either team.

The Pistons would never get back within single digits the rest of the way.

Indiana opened the third quarter with a 9-1 run to stretch the margin to 19 points. Detroit managed to cut the margin back to 11, but the Pacers kept them at arm's length, thanks in large part to George, who scored 12 points in the third quarter on 5-of-9 shooting.

Detroit never seriously threatened in the fourth quarter as the Blue & Gold cruised to a comfortable win, snapping a two-game skid. Now over a third of the way through the season, the Pacers have yet to win or lose more than two games in a row.

"We played well defensively, that's got to be us," George said. "Offensively, we'll make shots. We might have a slow night offensively but defensively that's got to be us. We've got to be a consistent and well-coached defensive team."

Six Pacers players and all five starters scored in double figures in the victory. George led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-26 shooting while also collecting seven rebounds and two steals. Jeff Teague stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

Glenn Robinson III recorded his second double-double of the year, finishing with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Thaddeus Young added 12 points, while Myles Turner and sixth man C.J. Miles each chipped in 10.

Jefferson also had a strong game off the bench, finishing with eight points and nine boards.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led Detroit with 20 points and Reggie Jackson added 19 points and 10 assists. All-Star center Andre Drummond, the NBA's second-leading rebounder, had nine points and 15 boards.

The Pacers return to the friendly confines of Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday night, when they will host John Wall and the Washington Wizards at 7:00 PM ET.

After being outrebounded by 20 on Wednesday night in Miami and by 10 on Thursday in New Orleans, the Pacers won the battle of the boards handily in Detroit, 51-40. It was just the eighth time all season that the Blue & Gold have outrebounded their opponents (Indiana is 6-2 when doing so).

Robinson's 12 rebounds surpassed his previous career best of 11, set in an overtime win in Oklahoma City on Nov. 20. His two double-doubles are tied with Young for fourth-most on the team this season.

The Pacers held the Pistons to just 38.1 percent shooting on the night, the fourth time this season they've held their opponent under 40 percent.

Indiana matched its season low with just nine turnovers on the night, a mark previously set in a Nov. 14 win over Orlando and then again in Wednesday's loss in Miami.

The Pistons had just eight turnovers themselves, one shy of matching the season low for a Pacers opponent. The Trail Blazers committed just seven giveaways in their Nov. 30 win over Indiana in Portland.

"We always want to be aggressive attacking the basket. We want to win the free-throw line. I thought our guys tonight did that. We shot 25 free throws tonight, but we don't want to settle. We want to get good ball movement. We want to play on catch, stay aggressive going to the basket. If your attack forces them to commit to the ball then you move the ball it's a simple basketball game, we did that tonight. We shared the ball and everybody got involved." -Pacers head coach Nate McMillan

"Outside of him almost getting close to a triple double, I think defensively he did a great job of making it tough for Reggie (Jackson) tonight. I thought he was on him a lot, he was pressuring up. It's really hard to stay in front of Reggie; so shifty. He's really good in the pick-and-rolls so I thought that was most impressive, his defense." -George on Teague

"In our offense, the ball is not moving, it's sticking, guys are letting the offensive frustration get to them at the defensive end. We're not in a good place right now, you go through it at times during the season and we're not very good right now. Our last four games have not been good, three of them, we have to get it back together." -Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy

"We are not playing defense. That is what it comes down to. We have been a pretty good defensive team throughout the season. We just haven't been good as of late. We got to figure it out and find a way to string together stops and compete for 48 minutes." -Jackson

The Pacers were the first team all season to score 100 or more points against the Pistons at home. Detroit entered Saturday leading the NBA in points allowed per game and had held its first 12 visitors to the Palace of Auburn Hills under the century mark.

The Pacers return home on Monday, Dec. 19, when they will host John Wall and the Washington Wizards at 7:00 PM ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Find Tickets »

Select Basketballs - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased online the day of each away game from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Order Online »