The Detroit Pistons Fail To Rally In Loss To The Pacers
This exhibition had it all - a chippy contest with plenty of trash talk. It featured loads of young talent and gave fans a teaser for what's to come in this Central Division rivalry. With a final score of 115-124, Detroit now falls to 1-2. The Pistons faltered in the 3rd quarter and simply did not have the firepower to power their way back. The comeback effort was applaudable; however, the Pacers found their shots beyond the arc and never let it get too close.
Who won the Ivey vs. Mathurin Matchup?
Despite the scoreboard, the individual performances of both rookie guards yield intriguing results. Mathurin was not shy to talk his talk and seemed to have initiated the chirping with both Saddiq and Ivey throughout the contest. Mathurin finished with 27 points, while Ivey finished with a stat line of 17-5-11. The Pacers guard was hot all night and refused to back down from pressure. He also knocked down a deep three to shun the Pistons' 4th quarter rally.
Unfortunately, this faceoff goes to Mathurin. Despite a more all-around effort by Ivey and balanced scoring with the Pistons starters, Mathurin's pure stroke and cool, calm, and collected mentality aided his team to victory. The Ivey-Mathurin rivalry has officially commenced and will be a fun matchup to watch in the future - though Ivey now has the chip on his shoulder. These teams will see each other next on March 11th, so Ivey will have plenty of time to develop until then. Mark the date in your calendar - it will be a good one.
Cade Takeover:
In all the conversations about a passive vs. aggressive Cade, fans witnessed the flip of the switch in the 4th quarter. Cunningham finished with 22 points, and more than half of his totals came in the final quarter. His playmaking efforts took the back seat as he went to work in the post, midrange, and three-point land. Cade undeniably took over when his team needed him; however, if he had not been as passive in the 3rd, the team may not have required his late-game heroics in the first place. Either way, the season is still young, and this second-year stud will eventually find his rhythm and better understand when he must alter his play style to ensure overall team success.
Block Party
Both teams played adequate defense; however, the Pacers caught a spark after the Pistons' 35-point first quarter. Indiana finished the exhibition with 15 blocks and seemed to be getting fingers on nearly every close-range shot. The Pacers evidently prioritized shot contests, and by crashing defenders toward slashing Pistons, they were able to minimize the looks inside. While many of the Pacers' blocks came against drives and putback attempts, these were relatively routine and occurred partly due to sloppy play and the lack of aggression by the Pistons. All this came without the presence of premier shot-blocker Myles Turner. Jalen Duren had two powerful rejections as well. He had no issues establishing his authority as a rim protector and effectively altered many shot attempts with his lanky frame.
