The Indiana Pacers (22-19) travel to face off against the Detroit Pistons (21-19) on Thursday, January 16th. This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and televised on FDSD. The Pistons are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Pacers are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Pacers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.
Pacers vs Pistons
The Pacers Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Pacers fell to 22-19 on the season after a 127-117 home loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday. Indiana entered the game as +8.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 244 points exceeded the over/under line of 231 by 13 points.
A 10-0 run by the Cavaliers shifted the momentum, taking the score from 85-77 to 87-85. Indiana responded by winning the 2nd quarter 31-25 but couldn’t sustain it, as Cleveland outscored them 38-28 in the 3rd. The Pacers were down 100-89 heading into the 4th and narrowly lost the final quarter 27-28.
The Pistons Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Pistons improved to 21-19 on the season with a 124-119 road win over the Knicks on Monday. Detroit entered the game as +8 point underdogs and covered the spread with the win.
Detroit jumped out to a 37-26 lead after the 1st quarter, but the Knicks responded by outscoring the Pistons 37-22 in the 2nd quarter. A 10-0 run by Detroit extended their lead from 74-72 to 84-72, and they entered the 4th quarter up 95-90. Both teams scored 29 points in the final period. The game’s total of 243 points went over the pre-game line of 224.5 by 18.5 points.
Pacers Offense Breakdown
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points and 7 rebounds in their 127-117 loss to the Cavaliers, shooting 62.5% from the field and hitting both of his three-point attempts. Bennedict Mathurin added 19 points, connecting on 3 threes at a 50% rate, while Myles Turner contributed 17 points.
Siakam scored 12 of his 23 points in the 1st quarter, while Mathurin added 12 of his 19 points in the 4th. The Pacers hit 12 threes as a team, shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc and 48.4% overall.
Pistons Offense Breakdown
Cade Cunningham’s 36 points, including 18 in the 3rd quarter, led the Pistons to a 124-119 win over the Knicks. He hit 4 threes at a 50% rate, while Malik Beasley added 22 points, knocking down 6 threes at 75% efficiency, with 12 points in the 1st quarter and 9 in the 4th.
Detroit connected on 15 threes, shooting 44.1% from beyond the arc and 50% overall from the field. Tobias Harris and Ausar Thompson each contributed 11 points, with Harris struggling from the field at 25%.
Pacers Team Defense
Defensively, the Pacers struggled in the 1st and 3rd quarters, giving up 37 and 38 points, respectively, in their 127-117 loss to the Cavaliers. They tightened up in the 2nd quarter, allowing just 25 points, and gave up 27 in the 4th.
Indiana held Cleveland to 34% from three, with the Cavaliers making 15 threes. The Pacers sent Cleveland to the line 31 times, where they hit 26 free throws. Indiana recorded 10 steals and 3 blocks in the game.
Pistons Team Defense
Defensively, the Pacers struggled in the 1st and 3rd quarters, giving up 37 and 38 points, respectively, in their 127-117 loss to the Cavaliers. They tightened up in the 2nd quarter, allowing just 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Indiana held Cleveland to 34% shooting from three, with the Cavaliers hitting 15 threes. The Pacers also recorded 10 steals and 3 blocks in the game.
Pacers vs Pistons Trends
- In their last ten games away from home, the Pacers have a straight up record of 9-1 while going 9-1 vs. the spread. The team averaged 118 points per game in this stretch.
- Across their last five home contests, Detroit has been good against the spread posting a mark of 4-1. Their overall mark in these games was 4-1, while averaging 117 points per game.
- As the betting underdog, the Pacers have an ATS mark of just 6-4 in their last ten games. Indiana posted a straight up mark of 6-4 in these matchups.
- As the betting favorite, the Pistons have an ATS record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 3-0.
Pacers vs Pistons Prediction
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +2.5, the Pacers is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 227.5, and our model projects the Pacers and Pistons to reach a combined total of 229 points. Our bet is on taking the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 17, 2025 Pacers, Pistons