DETROIT (AP) — Duncan Robinson and Cade Cunningham each scored 16 points in limited time and the Detroit Pistons beat the shorthanded Indiana Pacers 121-78 on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena.
The 43-point lead tied the ninth-largest victory in Pistons history.
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The Pacers were missing their four leading scorers, with Pascal Siakam resting and Benedict Maturin (thumb), Andrew Nembhard (back) and Obi Toppin (foot) with injuries. TJ McConnell, who ranks sixth on the team in points and second in assists, is also out with a knee issue.
Detroit’s Jalen Duren had 15 points and eight rebounds, and 13 Detroit players scored. The Pistons won for the fifth time in six games.
Jarace Walker scored 13 points for the Pacers and Tony Bradley scored 12 points. The Pacers have won four of five games.
Detroit led by as many as 44 points in the third quarter before Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff announced his starter for the night. Duren led the way with 23 minutes among starters, with Cunningham and Robinson the only other players to reach 20 minutes.
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Indiana started the game looking like a team using a G-League roster. They missed 10 of their first 11 shots and committed five turnovers as Detroit led 24-2 in the first seven minutes.
With a half-time record of 59 wins and 25 losses, the Pacers shot 23.3% (43 of 10) from the field, including 6% from three-point range (1 of 18) and 7 of 11 free throws. Scores from Cunningham (11), Robinson (10) and Duren (9) defeated Indiana 30-25.
The 25 points were Detroit’s best defense with 11 points in the half, and Indiana’s offense with 9 points as its worst half.
Next
Indiana: Plays third game in four nights at Philadelphia on Monday.
Detroit: Host the Boston Celtics on Monday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
