Tag: Indiana Pacers

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NBA (Basketball)

Teams battling injuries collide as Pacers take on Pelicans

San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans

After a tough stretch with 12 losses in their last 13 games, the New Orleans Pelicans will try to turn things around on the road when they face the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in Indianapolis.

On Thursday, New Orleans lost 111-109 to the Sacramento Kings at home, despite a late rally. The Pelicans have had a rough start to the season, with several injuries leaving them without key players like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Jose Alvarado.

In his first season with the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray fractured his left hand in the season opener. Since returning on Nov. 27, Murray has struggled with his shooting, averaging 16.3 points per game but posting career-lows of 34.7 percent from the field and 25.9 percent on 3-pointers.

“He’s coming back from being out for a while,” said Pelicans head coach Willie Green. “Coming back into a situation where he’s thrust right into having a lot on his shoulders is tough.

He’s responsible for getting the team involved, getting us in our sets, guarding some of the best players night in and night out and then trying to score 20-plus a night. He’s still knocking off some rust, still trying to find his rhythm, but at the same time he’s accountable.”

While Williamson recovers from a strained left hamstring and Ingram deals with an ankle sprain, CJ McCollum has led the team with 21.5 points per game, and Trey Murphy III has added 18.2 points per game.

Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls

Indiana is also struggling with injuries, but the team has won two of their last three games after a four-game losing streak. Their most recent win was a 121-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Indiana has lost two big men for the season due to Achilles injuries: Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman. Ben Sheppard (oblique) and Aaron Nesmith (ankle) are also sidelined.

Following the victory against Philadelphia, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle praised his team’s balanced offensive play. “We’ve got to be aggressive, and certain teams play a style of defense where 3s are available,” Carlisle said.

“And if they are available, and we’re stepping into rhythm and hitting them, then we’ve got to keep shooting them. But we can’t forget about the paint. I thought our balance was good (against Philadelphia).”

Pascal Siakam leads the Pacers with 19.8 points per game, followed by Tyrese Haliburton (18.0) and Bennedict Mathurin (17.6).

Indiana will look to bounce back from a 125-118 loss to the Pelicans on Nov. 1, which was one of the five wins for New Orleans. The Pacers had previously defeated the Pelicans 114-110 at home on Nov. 25.

A win on Sunday for New Orleans would give them their first road victory since Oct. 25 at Portland and would also secure their first season series win over the Pacers since the 2019-2020 season.

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NBA (Basketball)

Sixers’ standout rookie, Jared McCain, will be sidelined for an unknown period due to a torn meniscus that necessitates surgery

Jared McCain reacts after scoring in the 1st half

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain has a torn meniscus in his left knee that needs surgery and will be out for an uncertain amount of time.

McCain, who has been a bright spot for the struggling Sixers early in the season, felt pain in his left knee after the team’s 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

The team said that an MRI on Saturday revealed a lateral meniscus tear in McCain’s left knee, which will require surgery.

McCain, who was selected 16th overall in the draft out of Duke, is currently the top scorer among rookies this season, averaging 15.3 points through the first 23 games. He is also averaging 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. In the game against the Pacers, McCain scored five points and had three assists in 29 minutes of play.

On the same night against Indiana, Sixers center Joel Embiid suffered a sinus fracture while going for a rebound late in the first half. Embiid, who had 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists in 17 and a half minutes, will be evaluated further over the weekend.

Jared McCain and Nick Smith Jr. in the 2nd half

This was only Embiid’s sixth game out of the 23 games played so far. He has been dealing with swelling in his left knee and also missed three games due to a suspension for physical contact with a reporter.

Injuries to the Sixers’ star players Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George—who were expected to form the team’s “Big Three” after George’s arrival in the offseason—have caused the trio to play together for only parts of three games. Because of this, the Sixers have had a rough start to the season, with a 7-16 record.

Despite these challenges, McCain has been one of the few positive performers for the team. He scored a career-high 34 points in a loss to Cleveland in mid-November and has scored 20 or more points in eight games this season.

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FEATURED

Tyrese Haliburton shines as the Pacers easily defeat the 76ers

Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers

Tyrese Haliburton scored 32 points, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 121-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Pascal Siakam contributed 23 points and eight rebounds for Indiana, and Obi Toppin added 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Haliburton hit 7 of 15 three-point attempts and also had 11 assists.

Joel Embiid, the star for the 76ers, who has missed a lot of time this season due to injuries and suspension, left the game late in the second quarter after taking an accidental hit to the face. He finished with 12 points and five assists in 17 minutes.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 22 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The Sixers started strong, jumping to a 9-2 lead, but that was the last time they had the advantage. Indiana responded with 14 straight points to take control of the game.

Siakam hit a three-pointer during the run, and Haliburton followed with two more from beyond the arc. Soon after, Andrew Nembhard scored with a reverse layup, giving the Pacers a 16-9 lead.

Siakam’s three-point play in the final seconds of the first quarter gave Indiana a 31-22 lead.

Jaylen Brown drives past forward Pascal Siakam

In the second quarter, Toppin’s two free throws pushed the lead into double digits for the first time. Philadelphia briefly cut the deficit to 43-40, but the Pacers answered with 13 points out of the next 16 to take back control.

At halftime, Indiana led 61-50.

In the third quarter, the Pacers extended their lead to as much as 18 before the 76ers pulled within 90-83 heading into the fourth.

With less than 10 minutes left in the game, the Sixers trailed 93-88, but Toppin hit a three-pointer and then made two free throws soon after.

Philadelphia remained within reach, with Paul George hitting two free throws to make it 105-98 with 4:31 left. However, Siakam quickly responded with a three-pointer to restore a 10-point lead, sparking a 12-0 run that sealed the win for Indiana.

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Hornets snap eight-game losing streak with victory over Pacers

Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers

Brandon Miller scored 26 points as the Charlotte Hornets ended an eight-game losing streak by defeating the Indiana Pacers 113-109 on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Miller also grabbed six rebounds and handed out five assists, sealing the win with two free throws with 7.2 seconds remaining in the game.

Vasilije Micic contributed 18 points and nine assists, Cody Martin added 14 points, and Nick Richards finished with nine points and 14 rebounds.

T.J. McConnell came off the bench to score a career-high 30 points for the Pacers, while fellow reserve Jarace Walker added 15 points.

McConnell made 14 of 19 shots and had six assists, helping Indiana’s bench score a total of 60 points.

Miller’s finger roll with 59 seconds left gave the Hornets a 110-104 lead, but the Pacers quickly responded. Tyrese Haliburton hit a pull-up jumper, and Bennedict Mathurin stole Martin’s inbound pass and scored to make it 110-108.

After Josh Green made 1 of 2 free throws for Charlotte, Haliburton was fouled with eight seconds left. He made his first free throw and missed the second on purpose, which was rebounded by Miller.

Indiana Pacers (NBA)

Indiana missed their first six shots of the game, allowing Charlotte to jump to a 9-0 lead.

McConnell and Obi Toppin sparked the Pacers, who briefly took the lead, but the Hornets ended the first quarter strong. Green’s dunk at the buzzer gave Charlotte a 28-24 lead.

McConnell, who had 14 points in the first half in under 10 minutes, helped Indiana score a season-high 38 points in the second quarter.

At the other end, Micic had 13 points and four assists in the first half, and Charlotte led 63-62 at halftime after shooting 68.4 percent in the second quarter due to some defensive mistakes by the Pacers.

Indiana briefly took the lead in the third quarter with a jumper from Pascal Siakam, followed by Haliburton’s first basket of the game.

Seth Curry and Miller helped the Hornets regain the lead at 83-76 before McConnell led a 6-0 run to end the third quarter, cutting Charlotte’s lead to just one point heading into the final period.

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NBA (Basketball)

Pacers aim to capitalize on Hornets’ struggles

Indiana Pacers (NBA)

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle understands the struggles of the Charlotte Hornets, but that won’t stop him from taking advantage of their situation when they face off in Indianapolis on Sunday.

The Pacers snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bulls 132-123 on Friday, following two road losses to the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets. Chicago had played the night before, which helped Indiana secure the win.

Now, the Pacers will meet the Hornets, who are coming off an 116-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. This was their eighth straight loss.

Carlisle acknowledges the challenge of playing against teams on back-to-back games. “Brooklyn caught us on a horrific back-to-back, and we caught these guys (Bulls) on a tough one,” Carlisle said. “And Sunday we’re going to catch Charlotte on a back-to-back. We’ve got to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Indiana used their day off to improve certain areas, like offensive spacing and movement. “We had the longest shootaround I’ve had since I’ve been here because we had a lot of things we wanted to clean up,” Carlisle said.

“Our spacing was better — it opened up more opportunities for us to attack the paint. Guys did a great job of focusing in the morning, and that really carried over into the game.”

Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and added eight assists. Pascal Siakam contributed 21 points. The Pacers performed well in various areas, shooting 60% from three-point range, outrebounding Chicago 46-38, and dominating the points in the paint 56-42.

Obi Toppin, who had 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench, said, “I know we’re past last year, but at the end of the day, we were one of the fastest teams, if not the fastest team, in the league. We score most of our points in transition. We get those easy buckets, then when we get into the halfcourt, everybody has their rhythm.”

The Hornets defeated the Pacers 103-83 in their first meeting this season on Nov. 8, holding Indiana to its lowest score since December 2022.

Charlotte has struggled recently, losing several games due to an injury crisis. Despite trailing the Cavaliers 40-18 after the first quarter, the Hornets fought back, outscoring Cleveland 84-76 in the remaining three quarters, despite missing seven players, including LaMelo Ball (left calf).

Brandon Miller, who scored 25 points, was the only player from Charlotte’s top six scorers to play in the game. Hornets coach Charles Lee praised his team’s effort, saying, “Super proud of the group. Obviously no one in this organization or that locker room wants to lose a game in general and not lose another one on this streak we’re on.

But I would say the competitive spirit of this group was on display tonight. I’m so encouraged by so much that I’m seeing from the group. The strength we are gaining, the competitiveness that continues to go to another level … there’s a ton of resilience and fight.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Tyrese Haliburton led the way as the Pacers defeated the Bulls, snapping their four-game losing streak

Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls

Tyrese Haliburton scored 23 points, and Pascal Siakam added 21 to help the Indiana Pacers end their four-game losing streak with a 132-123 win against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Haliburton made 5 of 9 three-pointers and recorded eight assists. Siakam also hit 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. The Pacers had previously lost eight straight games on the road.

Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell each scored 17 points off the bench in the victory.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 32 points, including 5 of 9 from three-point range. Coby White contributed 19 points and nine assists for Chicago.

The Bulls made 21 of 50 three-pointers, marking the fifth time this season they had attempted 50 or more in a game.

Indiana took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Bulls 36-19, and managed to hold their lead in the second half.

White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Matas Buzelis each made two three-pointers as the Bulls led 35-31 after the first quarter.

Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes in the 2nd half

However, the Pacers turned things around in the second quarter with a strong performance on both ends of the floor.

Indiana went on an 18-3 run, hitting eight straight shots without a miss, which gave them a 56-44 lead with 5:09 left in the half.

The Pacers extended their lead to 72-56 in the third quarter before LaVine sparked a Bulls comeback, scoring 16 points in the period.

Chicago cut the Pacers’ lead to 103-100 when they started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run in less than a minute. Dosunmu stole the ball and assisted on Julian Phillips’ acrobatic dunk. After a timeout, the Pacers regained control, with Haliburton scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting in the final quarter.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Pacers aim to reduce errors in their game against the Bulls

Indiana Pacers (NBA)

The Indiana Pacers are focusing on reducing turnovers as they try to end their four-game losing streak against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

In their 99-90 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in New York, the Pacers committed 12 turnovers in the first half and 16 overall, which contributed to their defeat. This followed a 122-111 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, where they gave the ball away 21 times.

If the Pacers repeat this mistake against the fast-paced Bulls, it could cause big problems, as the Bulls are known for thriving in open-floor situations.

“Turnovers have been a problem for us,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “We have real clean quarters and then we have real dirty quarters with turnovers. It bit us again. … Those are controllable things. We’ve got to keep working on it. Really no excuses for it.”

Part of the issue may be the challenging schedule.

“We’re back-to-back — it’s a lousy travel situation,” Carlisle said, referring to the games in Toronto and Brooklyn. “It’s hell getting in and out of New York, we got to the hotel at 2:30 (Wednesday morning). That contributes a little bit to it, but our guys kept fighting.”

Brooklyn Nets (NBA)

Despite the losses, Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 points against Brooklyn, and T.J. McConnell added 14 points, contributing to the team’s strong bench play. Both will be crucial against Chicago, although Andrew Nembhard may be out due to left knee tendinitis.

The Bulls are looking for their third consecutive win and will be finishing their own back-to-back set. They won 139-124 against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Ayo Dosunmu had a career-high 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Nikola Vucevic scored 39 points on 16-of-22 shooting, taking advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s absence.

“He has been great all year and he played a great game tonight,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. “With Wembanyama being out, they (Spurs) didn’t have the same kind of length at the rim.

They tried to do some things to switch some of his pick-and-rolls, but he’s such a smart player, he can figure out where mismatches are. (He can) post up, he shot threes, he played in the pocket — I thought his game was great.”

The Bulls led throughout their game in San Antonio, scoring 73 points in the first half, matching their best first-half effort of the season. Their total of 139 points was their highest since December 2022.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Pacers bring their poor road performance to Brooklyn

Indiana Pacers (NBA)

The Indiana Pacers have started the season inconsistently, with their poor performance in road games being a major factor.

As one of three NBA teams with at least 10 losses on the road, the Pacers are looking to end a seven-game road losing streak when they play the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night in New York.

Currently, the Pacers are 2-10 on the road after finishing 21-20 in away games last season, including a Game 7 win on the road in the second round of the playoffs against the New York Knicks. Their last road win was a 134-127 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 4. Since then, they have lost every away game, with an average loss margin of 12.9 points.

The latest loss was 122-111 to the Toronto Raptors in the Pacers’ final NBA Cup game on Tuesday. Indiana never led the game, trailed by 24 points, and allowed an 18-2 run. In the first half, they committed 14 of their 21 turnovers and were outscored 65-48.

This rough first half came two nights after the Pacers led by 19 points and scored 68 points in the first half, but still ended up losing by 15 points to the Memphis Grizzlies.

“A lack of force, a lack of overall force led to a lack of leverage,” said Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, after the Pacers joined Toronto and the New Orleans Pelicans as the only teams with double-digit road losses. “We own the first half. We’ve had too many stretches like that. We all own it, and we need to fix it.”

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 30 points on Tuesday, after scoring only eight points on Sunday. This was just the second time this season he scored 20 or more points in a road game.

Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers

The Pacers hope to break their road slump against a Brooklyn team dealing with injuries. The Nets are without their leading scorer, Cam Thomas, due to a strained left hamstring, and other key players may also be missing.

Besides Thomas, starters Dorian Finney-Smith (sprained left ankle), Cameron Johnson (sprained left ankle), and Ben Simmons (sore left knee) are listed as questionable.

These players missed Brooklyn’s 128-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday, which was the Nets’ worst defeat of the season and the second time they have lost by 20 or more points during their current three-game losing streak.

Brooklyn used a different starting lineup for the seventh straight game but struggled with shooting, finishing at 40 percent from the field after shooting a season-low 38 percent in a 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

The Nets trailed the Bulls by as many as 29 points, allowed 62 points in the paint, and were outrebounded 54-41 after losing the rebounding battle 52-33 against the Magic.

“Losing a second half by 20, it’s not good enough,” said Nets coach Jordi Fernandez, who also saw his team give up 32 fast-break points to the Bulls. “We have higher standards, the way we work, the way we play, the way we compete. And this was not good.”

“(The Bulls) scored 56 in the first half, and they scored 72 in the second half. So our defense was extremely bad. And our players know that our ball pressure has to be better, our competitiveness, our communication.”

The injuries are opening up more playing time for other players, including Dariq Whitehead. The 20-year-old forward, who had only three points in four previous NBA games, scored 18 points on Monday, including hitting six of Brooklyn’s 14 three-pointers.

Other players stepping up due to injuries are Tyrese Martin and Shake Milton. Martin scored 30 points on Nov. 27 against Phoenix and finished with 15 points on Monday. Milton added 14 points at Chicago, two games after scoring 22 points in Brooklyn’s 123-100 loss to the Magic.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

The Raptors secure their only victory in the NBA Cup by defeating the Pacers

Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers

Scottie Barnes scored a career-high 35 points, along with nine assists and six rebounds, as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Indiana Pacers 122-111 on Tuesday night in an NBA Cup game.

Toronto led by as much as 24 points midway through the third quarter, but Indiana cut the lead to just two points with 6:36 left in the fourth quarter.

The Raptors finished group play in the NBA Cup with a 1-3 record, while Indiana ended with a 0-4 record.

RJ Barrett contributed 29 points and nine rebounds for Toronto, who won their second straight game and their fourth consecutive home game. Ochai Agbaji scored 13 points, and Jakob Poeltl added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 30 points. The Pacers have now lost three games in a row, including their second straight home loss. Bennedict Mathurin added 17 points, Myles Turner had 16 points, Pascal Siakam, a former Raptor, scored 13 points, Obi Toppin had 15 points and nine rebounds, and T.J. McConnell contributed 14 points.

Scottie Barnes and Bennedict Mathurin in the 2nd half

Toronto led 31-23 after the first quarter and started the second quarter with a 10-0 run. The lead grew to 20 points with Poeltl’s 8-foot jumper with 4:40 left in the second quarter, and reached 22 when Barrett made a 3-pointer with 2:06 remaining. The Raptors led 65-48 at halftime.

In the first half, Toronto shot 55.6 percent (25-for-45) from the field, while Indiana made 41.7 percent of their shots (15-for-36).

Barnes made a 21-foot jump shot with 8:34 left in the third quarter to give Toronto a 24-point lead.

Indiana started to close the gap, with Haliburton hitting two 3-pointers and Mathurin making a steal and dunk, bringing the score to 93-84 in favor of the Raptors at the end of the third quarter.

McConnell’s 8-foot shot cut the lead to seven with 8:51 left in the fourth quarter. Turner’s 3-pointer reduced the lead to five, and Toppin’s three-point play brought Indiana within two points at 6:36.

Agbaji responded with a 3-pointer for Toronto, and Poeltl made two free throws with 4:05 left to extend the lead to six points. Barnes then scored a floating jumper to make the lead eight with 3:32 remaining.

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NBA (Basketball)

Haliburton describes the Pacers’ performance as “embarrassing” as they face difficulties in matching last season’s success

Scottie Barnes and Bennedict Mathurin in the 2nd half

Two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton is not happy with how the Indiana Pacers have played so far this season.

“The product we’re putting on the floor right now as a group is embarrassing,” Haliburton said after Indiana lost 122-111 to the Toronto Raptors in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.

Indiana has a 2-10 record on the road and has lost seven straight games away from home since their win against Dallas on Nov. 4.

“There needs to be a reality check right now,” Haliburton said. “Individually and collectively, guys need to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves what they can do better. And it starts with me. I have to be a better leader.”

The Pacers had a strong season last year, finishing with a 47-35 record and making the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They won playoff series against Milwaukee and New York before getting swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.

Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes in the 2nd half

Earlier in the previous season, the Pacers reached the championship game of the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament. This year, however, they lost all four of their group games by a combined 60 points.

The Pacers struggled in the first half against Toronto, committing 17 turnovers.

“We’ve had too many stretches like that,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We all own it and we need to fix it.”

Indiana did better in the second half, outscoring Toronto 63-57, but it wasn’t enough to win.

After Tuesday’s loss, the Pacers were ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference, just half a game ahead of Detroit. They will try to end their road losing streak when they play Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Grizzlies recover from a tough first quarter to defeat the Pacers by 15 points

Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers

The Memphis Grizzlies bounced back from a rough first quarter to defeat the Indiana Pacers 136-121 on Sunday, marking their sixth straight win.

Seven Grizzlies players scored in double digits, with Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the team with 25 points and eight rebounds. Ja Morant added 19 points and a game-high eight assists, while Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart each scored 16 points.

Indiana got 19 points and eight rebounds from Bennedict Mathurin. Pascal Siakam scored 17 points, Obi Toppin had 16, and T.J. McConnell added 15.

Memphis finished the game with 36 assists, marking their fifth consecutive game with 30 or more assists, setting a franchise record. The Grizzlies entered the game leading the NBA with an average of 30.4 assists. Three players — Bane, Smart, and Santi Aldama — each recorded six assists.

The Grizzlies won their 10th game out of 13 home games this season, a big improvement after finishing 9-32 at home last year, but it took a lot of effort.

Memphis was down by 19 points early in the second quarter, but they fought back to outscore the Pacers 74-46 in the second and third quarters, taking an 11-point lead into the final period.

Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies never trailed again after a basket by rookie Jaylen Wells gave them an 83-81 lead midway through the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Memphis maintained a lead of double digits for most of the time, extending it to 17 points at one point.

Indiana was leading 68-62 at halftime after shooting very well in the first quarter. The Pacers made 63% of their shots (17 of 27) in the first quarter and shot 56.2% overall in the first half, which helped them build a 19-point lead.

A 27-7 run allowed the Pacers to finish the first quarter with a 45-28 lead. The 45 points were the most Memphis had allowed in any quarter this season and the second-most in franchise history.

Andrew Nembhard, who was returning from a knee injury, scored 14 points by halftime to lead Indiana. He did not play in the second half. Memphis received strong contributions from their bench late in the second quarter, with Aldama scoring 13 points and Smart adding 12.

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NBA (Basketball)

Cade Cunningham makes his return, leading the Pistons to an easy victory over the Pacers

Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers

Cade Cunningham returned from an injury to score 24 points, helping the Detroit Pistons stay undefeated in the NBA Cup and officially eliminating the defending runner-up with a 130-106 road win against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

Malik Beasley led Detroit with 25 points, while Jaden Ivey added 23 points and Tobias Harris contributed 16. The Pistons will play the Milwaukee Bucks in a matchup of 3-0 teams on Tuesday night, with the East Group B title at stake.

For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam scored 21 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 19. The Pacers trailed by as much as 12 points in the first quarter and could not catch up, suffering their third consecutive loss in the NBA Cup.

The Pistons shot 57.8% from the field and 47.4% from three-point range. They built a 15-point lead in the second quarter and extended it to 21 points in the third before coasting to their second win in the last six games.

Cade Cunningham (NBA)

Cunningham, who missed three games due to a strained left hip, also recorded 11 assists, marking his sixth straight double-double. He made 10 of 19 shots and hit four of his six three-pointers.

Beasley was even more efficient off the bench, making 10 of 14 shots and connecting on five three-pointers. Detroit outscored Indiana 54-36 from beyond the arc.

Jalen Duren also had a double-double, scoring 14 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocking four shots. Tim Hardaway Jr. was the fifth Pistons starter to reach double digits, finishing with 10 points.

The 130 points scored by Detroit was a season-high.

For the Pacers, Ben Mathurin scored 16 points, T.J. McConnell had 12 points, and Jarace Walker added 10 points, along with five steals. Myles Turner led Indiana in rebounds with 10, while Haliburton also had five assists along with his 19 points.