Shorthanded Pistons suffer 111-102 setback in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Thaddeus Young scored 19 points and Domantas Sabonis added 18 points and 12 rebounds Monday night to help the Indiana Pacers snap a three-game losing streak with a 111-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

It was a crucial win for the Pacers, who had lost seven of their previous eight and their grip on potentially having home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Myles Turner chipped in with 17 points and five blocks.

Wayne Ellington scored a season-high 26 points and Andre Drummond had 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons. Detroit started the night in the No. 6 spot with a 1 -game lead over Orlando for the final playoff spot in the East.

But after a sluggish start, the struggling and short-handed Pacers finally got the spark they needed from their two big men, Sabonis and Turner.

Sabonis made his first five shots as Indiana charged back from an early 10-point deficit, and Turner made the big plays in the second half, including a 3-pointer and two free throws late in the third to give the Pacers an 87-80 edge.

The combination was just enough for the Pacers to slip past the Pistons, who were firing on all cylinders early to take a 33-23 lead.

Sabonis spurred a 12-5 second-quarter charge that got the Pacers within 43-41 and Indiana closed out the half on a 7-2 run to take a 59-55 lead.

When the recharged Pistons rallied in the third quarter with runs of 9-0 and 7-0 to retake a 77-74 lead, Sabonis answered with a short hook shot, Bojan Bogdanovic scored on a fast break and Turner scored seven points in the decisive 13-3 run that gave Indiana an 87-80 lead after the third quarter.

Sabonis also started the game-sealing 9-0 run with a 9-footer early in the fourth.

TIP-INS

Pistons: Had a two-game winning streak end. … Detroit started the game by making 7 of 11 3s but finished 12 of 33. … Drummond finished with his 65th double-double of the season, the most in the league, and 10th in a row. … Reggie Jackson scored 22 points and Thon Maker had 14.

Pacers: Bogdanovic scored 19 points but had his streak of four consecutive games with at least 22 points end. …. Tyreke Evans scored 13 points, Doug McDermott had 11 and Aaron Holiday wound up with 10. … Coach Nate McMillan picked up win No. 614, breaking a tie with Mike Dunleavy for No. 25 in NBA history. … The Pacers shot 54.5% from the field and were 10 of 22 on 3s, improving to 12-2 when seven or more players score in double figures.

OUT OF ACTION

Both teams played short-handed.

Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin missed his second straight game for Detroit with a sore left knee and guard Luke Kennard was inactive with a sore right foot.

The Pacers, already without two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo with an injured right knee, played without point guard Darren Collison (sore groin) and shooting guard Wesley Matthews (strained right hamstring). Evans started despite initially being listed as questionable with a bruised right knee.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Close out season series with Indiana on Wednesday at home.

Pacers: Hope to snap a 10-game road losing streak in Wednesday’s rematch at Detroit.