INDIANAPOLIS — The Detroit Pistons pulled up to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday night in a ’74 Crown Victoria with a rag top. Andre Drummond was not only driving the joint but he was controlling the music too. When the smoke cleared he’d filled the trunk up with whatever he wanted and dipped with 32 points and 23 rebounds as the Pistons beat the Pacers 119-110.
Drummond had his way all night long. There was simply no answer for him and the crazy thing about it, the Pacers actually played very well on the offensive end once they got started.
Indiana got out of the gate slow and sluggish as the Pistons went on a 6-0 run to start the game. However, they quickly regained their composure and settled down as Ed Sumner came off of the bench to give them a spark defensively. Ole boy got two quick back to back steals to excite the crowd and as he hit Domantas Sabonis with the funky assist it was Chris Brown up in that piece “On and Poppin’!” Sabonis did the nasty spin move to the rack and folks went crazy. The Blue and Gold were only down 11-13 and it was a new ball game just that quick. At the end of the first quarter the Pistons were up 27-24.
As sloppy as the Pacers looked in the opening quarter they were still in the game. They had 5 turnovers but shot 55 percent from the field. Unfortunately, they had too many defensive lapses as Drummond got loose.
Not only was Drummond doing work on them but Derrick Rose came off of the bench and literally showed signs of life as a dominant point guard again. Who said his career was over? He’s still got that first step that helped him win the MVP Award back in 2011. Ole boy was getting to the rack like nobody’s business putting up 15 of his 18 points by halftime. Then Luke Kennard came off of the bench for Detroit too and went nuts finishing with 30 points.
With Detroit’s Drummond, Kennard and Rose balling the Pacers were still able to get to the break up 55-54. However, the difference in the ball game was bench play. Detroit’s bench outscored Indiana’s bench 57-16. That’s NUTS!!! Rose and Kennard made the difference for the team from Motown.
As good as Indiana’s core starters played offensively there’s nothing you can do when your bench doesn’t show up. All five Pacers starters finished the game in double figures. Domantas Sabonis finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Myles Turner dropped off a smooth 25 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Malcolm Brogdon put 22 points in the hat and threw 11 dimes on his way to Big Momma’s house while TJ Warren and Jeremy Lamb had 10 apiece.
Unfortunately, the Pistons were determined to get out of the joint alive and well as they went on 13-0 run in the third quarter and then on a 22-9 run to close out the game in the fourth. The Pacers offense stalled in the middle of the projects down the stretch and before anyone knew a thing they were sitting on milk crates.
It’s just one game and the good thing is, they can only get better. Stop me when I start lyin’!
