Game Preview: Detroit Pistons at the Indiana Pacers
The 8th placed Detroit Pistons (23-27) travel to Indianapolis to play the 6th placed Pacers (27-22).
The Detroit Pistons face one of the hotter teams in the league with the Indiana Pacers winning 12 of their last 16 games, averaging nearly 110 points per game over that stretch.
The Pacers will be looking to cement their spot in the top six of the Eastern Conference just two games behind the third place Washington Wizards.
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The Pistons on the other hand will be trying to build some momentum after a disappointing stretch which has put them in a position where a loss in Indiana would likely move them outside of the playoffs.
The race for the final spot in the East is likely to go down to the wire with just 4 games separating the Pistons in 8th place and the Orlando Magic in 13th.
Both teams are playing their third game in four nights. The Pistons winning both games at home while the Pacers doing the same on the road. The recent victories for both teams came against teams well below 0.500 so this may prove a bigger test for both with playoff aspirations.
They have met twice this season with the Pacers winning both games played in Detroit. The Pistons will need to limit the effectiveness of point guard Jeff Teague who is averaging 19 points and 10 assists, shooting over 50% from the field and exactly 50% from range during their current five game win streak.
The Pacers are likely to be without starting forward Thaddeus Young who will be awaiting results of an MRI on his injured wrist after the X-Ray came back negative.
After this game, the Pistons travel back to Detroit and begin a three game home stand which may prove to be the key to maintaining their run to a playoff berth.
