The Indiana Pacers opened their 2024-25 season with a 115-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. Myles Turner led the Pacers with 20 points, while Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin each added 19.
Detroit, playing in coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s debut, led by 12 points at one stage and held the advantage after each of the first three quarters. However, they could not maintain their lead in a closely contested game.
The Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter, overcoming an eight-point deficit and outscoring the Pistons 33-19 in the final frame. Tyrese Haliburton contributed 15 points for Indiana, while T.J. McConnell added 14 off the bench.
Indiana is coming off an impressive run to the Eastern Conference finals last season and retained key players such as Siakam, who signed a max contract this offseason. Siakam’s presence was felt on both ends of the court, as the All-Star forward contributed to the Pacers’ late-game surge.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham led all scorers with 28 points, scoring 22 of those in the second half. Detroit’s trio of veteran additions also made solid contributions. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley each finished with 14 points, while Tobias Harris, in his second stint with the Pistons, scored 13.
Jaden Ivey had a strong performance for Detroit, adding 17 points, while Jalen Duren recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Pistons were unable to close out the game.
Detroit struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, shooting just 5-of-20 from the field. This cold spell was in stark contrast to their efficiency earlier in the game, where they made nearly 50% of their shots through the first three quarters.
