Pacers at Pistons
The Detroit Pistons typically play well at home and the Indiana Pacers are faring poorly on the road. Detroit is a solid 8-4 at home entering Saturday's contest against the visiting Pacers, who are just 3-10 in enemy venues.
Indiana averaged just 92 points while losing the first two games of a three-game road trip and forward Thaddeus Young was concerned following Thursday's 102-95 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. "I just think we went stagnant," Young told reporters. "We didn't make shots and we had contested shots where we could have swung the ball a little more to get some movement." Detroit suffered a 122-108 road loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday that represents the most points the Pistons have allowed all season as well as snapping a streak of holding seven straight teams below 100. "We didn't play defense," Detroit point guard Reggie Jackson said afterward. "It's pretty frustrating. We let one slip away. All we can do is move past this one and get ready for (Saturday)."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, FSN Detroit-Plus
ABOUT THE PACERS (13-14): Indiana again will be without guards Monta Ellis (groin) and Rodney Stuckey (hamstring) and the absences are having a profound effect on the backcourt depth. "It puts a big dent in our rotation with Rodney being out and Monta being out," Indiana coach Nate McMillan told reporters. "Everybody has to be ready to play. That will push up Aaron Brooks a few more minutes and C.J. (Miles) will see some time at the wing position." Glenn Robinson III drew the start at shooting guard against New Orleans and contributed just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 33 minutes.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (14-14): Detroit allowed Washington to shoot 57.1 percent from the field and knock down 12 3-pointers in the rare poor defensive outing. The Pistons gave up an average of 89.6 points over their first seven games of the month and have allowed 100 or more points on just nine occasions this season. Shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope broke out of a slump with 24 points against the Wizards after averaging just 9.8 over his previous five contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pacers have won five of the past six meetings.
2. Detroit SF Marcus Morris tallied a season-low two points on 1-of-8 shooting versus Washington.
3. Miles scored just five points on 1-of-9 shooting against the Pelicans.