To quote the great Chris Denari, tonight the Indiana Pacers put a whuppin’ on the Detroit Pistons. The motor city residents found no love in the city of Indy, as the Pacers rocked their brand new “Earned” edition jerseys while earning a huge blowout win.
The Indiana Pacers started the night with an 8-0 run against the Pistons, and that foreshadowed the absolute destruction the blue and gold rained down on the Pistons heads all night. This game was all but over 10-minute minute mark of the first quarter, and the landslide continued for the next 38 minutes, as the Pacers never let up. Thad Young dunked on fools, Darren Collison dunked (!!!!), and the Pacers walked out with an easy win.
THAD!!!! https://t.co/yFejvUNBfn
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 29, 2018
Who needs 3’s?
The Pacers made only 5 shots from deep on 19 attempts, but that slowed them down none at all. Despite facing a formidable front line in Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, the Pacers won this game by absolutely dominating the Pistons in the paint. Dunks and layups and backdoor cuts and putbacks rained on the Pistons heads all night. If Doug McDermott had made his high flying 1 handed dunk in traffic, Andre Drummond would’ve legally had to retire at that exact moment.
Sharing is caring
For the 20th time this season, the Pacers had at least 6 players in double digits, and finished with 7 (none of whom was named Victor Oladipo!). This team shares the wealth more than any other team in the NBA, and have the 3rd best record in the league to show for it.
Victor Oladipo still isn’t all the way back
The Pacers didn’t need him tonight, by any means, but 7 points on 2-9 shooting in 26 minutes doesn’t portend great things. Oladipo could definitely be easing back into a squad that went 7-4 while he was out, but it would be nice to see a bit more on the offensive end from the Pacers lone all star.
Player grades:
The Pacers close out 2018 at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. Prepare appropriate, the game is at 3 pm. The Pacers will look to repeat the performance they had against Atlanta last Wednesday.