The Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons meet for the third time after splitting their first two meetings this season.

Catch the game tomorrow at 8:00 AM, Manila time.

AWAY: Indiana Pacers (22-19, 11-12 AWAY)

Projected starting five:

  • Tyrese Haliburton (day-to-day) / TJ McConnell
  • Andrew Nembhard
  • Aaron Nesmith
  • Pascal Siakam 
  • Myles Turner

The Pacers ended the Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak on Monday and extended their own streak to six consecutive victories. However, with plenty of absences, they dropped the quick rematch to the Cavs on Wednesday, thus halting the hot run.

Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) was one of the sidelined players in the loss, and he’ll be a game-time decision for this matchup. He’s the maestro of the offense, so his presence is vital despite his hot-and-cold spell. He’s at 18.1 PPG and 8.1 APG this season.

Indy won the first meeting last October, 115-109. Myles Turner did his thing with 20 points, three three-pointers, and four blocked shots, while Pascal Siakam tallied a near-triple double: 19 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. They then lost big in the second meeting last November, 130-106, though Siakam was again a leading contributor with a team-high courtesy of a team-high 21 points.

With Hali ailing and athletic inside-out threat Ben Mathurin will be out due to suspension, TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, and Obi Toppin could be primed for more opportunities.

Indiana is scoring 118.4 points per game with a +11.1 point differential in their last eight outings.

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HOME: Detroit Pistons (21-19, 10-9 HOME)

Projected starting five:

  • Cade Cunningham
  • Tim Hardaway Jr.
  • Ausar Thompson
  • Tobias Harris
  • Jalen Duren

Being one of the league’s newest darlings, the Pistons are remaining confident and eager. They are now 10-2 across their last 12 games, averaging 115.8 PPG with a +4.6 point differential within that stretch.

Fourth-year lead guard Cade Cunningham is at the center of it all as he is obliterating the statsheet with 24.5 points, 6.6 boards, and 9.4 assists. He has identical numbers in two meetings vs. IND this season, including a double-double of 24 points and 11 dimes in the one-sided win in November.

Veteran shooters Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., are now Cunningham’s main cohorts on offense following the injury of Jaden Ivey. Beasley is having a fine campaign with 16.5 PPG on 40.4% shooting from beyond the arc, while Hardaway Jr. is popping out here and there as he has 26 and 27-point performances with 13 combined treys in two of his last four games.

Big man Jalen Duren may be there as well. He has 10.6 points, 10.1 boards, and 1.0 block on 69.7% shooting in his last 14. 

PICKS:

Spread: Pistons (+3)

Over/Under: Over (227)

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