Three takeaways from Indiana Pacers bounceback win over Detroit Pistons
The Indiana Pacers picked up their fourth-straight regular season win on Monday night and took down the Detroit Pistons on the road. Despite coming down emotionally from a big run in the In-Season Tournament, the Pacers were able to stay focused and defeat the lowly Pistons.
The final score was 131-123, with most of the Pacers damage coming in the second quarter. They closed that frame well and had some good defensive moments in the period, which proved to be crucial in the win. Despite some up-and-down play all night, they were able to come out on top.
"It was fun," Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin said of the victory on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast of the game. He was terrific and played a critical role in the Pacers second quarter burst.
Indiana now sits at 13-8, a solid record after one-fourth of the season. They are exceeding expectations so far and continue to be one of the league's best offensive teams.
The takeaways for the Pacers from this game are mostly positive as they continue to climb the standings.
Bennedict Mathurin had a career night
Everything Mathurin did on Monday night was superb. The young guard flashed a combination of the skills that make him an intriguing young player and the ones that Indiana hopes he adds going forward.
From a scoring perspective, he was excellent. Mathurin finished with a season-high 30 points, and he did it with rim attacks and quality outside shooting. His shot profile was excellent, and didn't hesitate at all. When he makes quick decisions, he looks much better.
The second-year guard paired that season-best scoring outing with a career-high eight assists. His passing was excellent. He fired the ball into the post when the Pistons were slow to rotate and he made reads in traffic. Mathurin was able to understand coverages and create for his teammates in a way he hadn't before.
Altogether, he had 30 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. He got to the foul line consistently and nabbed two steals. It was perhaps Mathurin's best-ever game, and the Pacers don't win without him.
"Just trying to go out there and be me," Mathurin said during a halftime interview on the Bally Sports Indiana broadcast. He certainly was in this game, and like he did a few times last month, he blended what he can be with what Indiana hopes he grows into.
The Pacers overcame an emotional hangover
Indiana reached the In-Season Tournament Finals last week, and they received praise for their great play. They beat Boston and Milwaukee on national television and looked great in Las Vegas, putting themselves on the map.
They were ready for their moment. The Pacers earned a ton of attention last week, though, and they had to exit that reality and re-enter a regular season mentality quickly. There was only one full day between the In-Season Tournament title game and the outing in Detroit.
The team acknowledged that quick change from event to event and wanted to focus on keeping the game simple. Even with extra attention on Tyrese Haliburton all night and a strange emotional swing, the Pacers were able to stay poised throughout the game and keep the Pistons at arms length. They never trailed in the second half on their way to victory.
Despite the complicating factors, the Pacers won a game they were expected to win. That's what good teams do.
Four-straight wins
The blue and gold now have won four-straight regular season games (the title game against the Los Angeles Lakers doesn't count as a regular season game). That's impressive and is their longest streak of the season.
What makes it meaningful for the ascending Pacers is that they have won all four games in different ways. They beat the Heat in Miami without Haliburton, a rarity. Their defense had solid moments against the Celtics. Indiana was on ESPN and playing on a huge stage against the Bucks, but they looked completely comfortable in the win.
In Detroit, they dodged an emotional hangover and an off night from Haliburton. The best of the best can win in different ways, and Indiana has done that in this stretch. They are rolling and now sit at fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers next hit the court on Wednesday night when they take on the Bucks in Milwaukee.
- The Indiana Pacers are having a moment they were built for. CLICK HERE.
- What the Indiana Pacers lost in the In-Season Tournament Finals they gained in experience. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers In-Season Tournament Finals loss to Los Angeles Lakers showed their need for size. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers recover from In-Season Tournament defeat and beat Detroit Pistons on the road. CLICK HERE.
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