Pacers handle Griffin-less Pistons 108-89
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 03: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons look on while playing the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena on April 03, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT (AP) - Thaddeus Young scored 21 points, and the Indiana Pacers took advantage of Blake Griffin's absence, beating the Detroit Pistons 108-89 on Wednesday night.
Griffin missed a third straight game for the Pistons, who are in the middle of a tight race for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The star forward has been dealing with left knee soreness.
Detroit came into the night in sixth place in the East, but just 1 ½ games ahead of ninth-place Orlando. The Magic gained ground with a win over New York on Wednesday.
The Pacers snapped a 10-game losing streak on the road, and they won for just the third time in their last 10 games. Bojan Bogdanovic and Myles Turner scored 17 points apiece, and Domantas Sabonis added 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Indiana closed the third quarter with nine straight points, and Doug McDermott's 3-pointer gave the Pacers a 78-62 lead.
Andre Drummond had 28 points and 19 rebounds for the Pistons, and Wayne Ellington scored 24 points.
The Pistons turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter and trailed 18-15 after one. Indiana was up 44-36 at halftime.
RECORD
Drummond tied his own team record with his 66th double-double of the season. He also had that many in 2015-16. Isiah Thomas had 65 in 1984-85.
TIP-INS
Pacers: Indiana is 22-21 in Victor Oladipo's absence. He is out for the season after a January knee injury. ... Darren Collison (groin) and Wesley Matthews (hamstring) also missed the game. ... Cory Joseph had six points and 12 assists.
Pistons: Detroit has lost five of seven. ... The Pistons went 11 of 41 from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Boston on Friday night.
Pistons: At Oklahoma City on Friday night.