PREVIEW: The Indiana Pacers arrive in Detroit on the second night of a back-to-back to face the Pistons , a matchup that carries significant implications for both squads. Detroit enters as the Eastern Conference's top team, having already defeated Indiana twice this season , establishing clear dominance in their head-to-head series. The Pacers have won four of their last five games , riding momentum that includes Jay Huff's career-high 29 points and Pascal Siakam's 27-point effort in their most recent victory . However, Indiana must contend with a defensive challenge: the Pistons rank first in defending shots at the rim, while the Pacers rank 24th in rim defense , a critical mismatch that could define this contest. Detroit presents an overwhelming offensive profile anchored by ball movement and interior dominance. The Pistons rank second in attacking the rim with high frequency and third in forcing turnovers , pressuring opponents into mistakes while generating easy scoring opportunities. Cade Cunningham leads the way with 26.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, while Jalen Duren contributes 17.8 points and 10.9 rebounds , forming a dynamic duo that exploited Indiana in previous matchups. Meanwhile, Indiana counters with strong defensive rebounding ranked first and a low turnover rate at fifth , giving them paths to control pace and limit Detroit's transition opportunities despite playing exhausted on the second leg of their road trip.