Pacers Routed in Detroit, Look to Regroup Ahead of MLK Day Clash with Sixers
The Pacers technically won the opening tip in Detroit-but that was about the only thing that went their way.
Quenton Jackson hustled through traffic to grab the loose ball and draw a foul after Jalen Duren initially controlled the tip. But from that moment on, it was all Pistons.
A missed shot on the first possession led to a Duncan Robinson triple on the other end, and just like that, the floodgates opened. Within two minutes, Indiana was staring at a 9-0 deficit.
Five minutes later, it was 24-2. And by the end of the night, the final score read 121-78 in favor of Detroit.
Yes, that’s a 43-point loss. And yes, it was every bit as rough as it sounds.
To be fair, the Pacers were operating with a skeleton crew. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Indiana opted to rest several key rotation pieces.
Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and T.J. McConnell were all held out.
Bennedict Mathurin is nearing a return but wasn’t quite ready either. That left the Pacers leaning heavily on their younger, less experienced players-and the Pistons took full advantage.
Detroit, who’s been on the wrong end of plenty of beatdowns over the past two seasons, didn’t just win-they pounced. The Pistons came out with energy, confidence, and a clear intent to flip the script. Even with the Pacers clearly undermanned, Detroit didn’t let up.
Indiana’s young group didn’t fold, but they simply couldn’t find rhythm. The offense was stuck in mud from the jump.
The Pacers shot just 4-of-20 in the first quarter and missed their first 18 three-point attempts before Jarace Walker finally connected late in the second quarter. That cold stretch buried them early, and there was no digging out of the hole.
If there was one silver lining, it came in the form of Isaiah Jackson. Returning from a concussion, Jackson logged about 17 minutes off the bench and gave the Pacers a small spark.
He finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds, making two of the team’s four field goals in the opening quarter. He also took a shot to the chin while battling inside-certainly not what you want to see in his first game back-but he shook it off and kept playing.
All of Indiana’s bigs got some run in this one, including Tony Bradley, whose 10-day contract expired after the game. Head coach Rick Carlisle indicated the Pacers plan to bring him back on another 10-day deal. With Jackson easing back in and Micah Potter likely staying out of the regular rotation, Bradley offers a bit of frontcourt insurance.
Now, the Pacers turn the page and head to Philadelphia for their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup, this time against the Sixers.
Philly has dropped two straight and is entering a busy stretch, with three games in four nights. Monday’s game against Indiana is the front end of a back-to-back for the Sixers, who will face the Suns on Tuesday and the Rockets on Thursday. Both Paul George and Joel Embiid are listed as questionable, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Philly looks to manage their minutes across the week.
The Pacers, on the other hand, should be well-rested. With several starters sitting out Saturday and the lopsided score allowing for light minutes across the board, Indiana should have fresher legs heading into Monday night.
Pacers vs. 76ers - What You Need to Know
- Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026 - 7:00 p.m.
ET
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network
- Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan
- Odds: Pacers +8.5
Projected Starters:
- Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Johnny Furphy, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff
- 76ers: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, Paul George, Dominick Barlow, Joel Embiid
Injuries remain a factor on both sides, but the Pacers will be looking to bounce back from a forgettable night in Detroit. With some key names expected back in the lineup, Monday offers a fresh opportunity to reset the tone for the rest of the road trip.