Led by Paul George, Pacers defeat Pistons 105-90

Even with Monta Ellis and Rodney Stuckey out due to injury, the Indiana Pacers ended its three game road trip with a 105-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the Palace on Saturday night. Indiana (14-14) ended a two game skid overall and extended their win streak over the Pistons to three in the impressive win.

Jeff Teague paced Indiana early on scoring seven points in the first quarter, but Detroit got off to a hot start, hitting four consecutive three-pointers to start the game. The Pistons extended their lead to as many as nine in the quarter, as they built a 16-7 lead, but Indiana went on a 7-0 of their own to cut the deficit and the Pistons momentum.

It was a back and forth quarter with each team settling for low-percentage shots that lead to multiple fast break scores. Indiana was the main beneficiary in transition scoring eight points off fast breaks, but struggled stopping Andre Drummond. The Pistons center recorded four points, five rebounds and two blocks in the quarter, but Paul George hit a three-pointer with 0.9 second left to give Indiana a 27-26 lead. He and Teague led the Pacers with seven points each after one.

Glenn Robinson and Al Jefferson were rolling to start the second quarter, as they contributed 10 of the Pacers first 12 points. Indiana took a 33-26 lead before Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy called a timeout to stop the bleeding, as Detroit went on a six minute scoring drought, failing to score in the second quarter until the 8:22 mark.

The Pacers defense continued to wreak havoc forcing five turnovers and holding Detroit to 36 percent shooting from the field in the quarter, as Indiana built a 37-28 lead and never looked back. Paul George began to take over the game near the end of the half scoring seven more points to help the Pacers build a 55-44 halftime lead.

He finished the game with 26 points and seven rebounds on 11-21 shooting from the field.

The Pistons shooting struggles continued into the third quarter as Indiana extender their lead to as many as 19 points. Detroit missed nine straight shots and were forced into three shot clock violations by the stifling Indiana defense that forced eight turnovers and held the Pistons to 38.6 percent shooting.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the one bright spot for Detroit, as he got hot in the third quarter connecting on three three-pointers to cut the Indiana lead to 12. He eclipsed the 20 point mark for the second consecutive night scoring 20 points on 6-18 shooting.

Paul George stayed effective on both sides of the ball in the third scoring eight more points and help Indiana extend their lead to 83-69 after three.

The Pacers had blown fourth quarter leads to the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans during the first two games of the road trip, but that would not be the case tonight. Indiana dominated the entire game outscoring the Pistons in each quarter and never losing their double-digit lead once they went up by 11 in the second quarter.

Jeff Teague had one of his better games of the season recording 19 points on 6-10 shooting, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals, and Glenn Robinson III recorded his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The 105 points scored by the Pacers was the first time Detroit has allowed over 100 points at home all season, as Detroit had no answer for Indiana on the glass. The Pacers surprisingly dominated the glass out-rebounding the Pistons 51-40.

Indiana will look to stay hot when they come home to face the Washington Wizards Monday evening.