INDIANAPOLIS – In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night, Pascal Siakam delivered an impressive performance with 37 points, while Tyrese Haliburton contributed 30 points along with eight assists, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 133-119 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Siakam and Haliburton showcased their shooting prowess, combining to hit 25 out of 38 attempts, which included a strong showing from beyond the arc with eight 3-pointers made out of 16 attempts.

The Pacers got off to a blazing start, scoring a staggering 40 points in the first quarter, shooting 16 of 20 overall, and hitting seven of ten from three-point range. Overall, Indiana finished the game with 46 made field goals out of 81 attempts, resulting in a shooting percentage of 56.8%, including 19 successful three-pointers out of 38 attempts.

Myles Turner also made significant contributions for Indiana, putting up 24 points in the game.

Cade Cunningham led the scoring for the Pistons with 32 points and nine assists, while Malik Beasley added another 20 points, nailing six three-pointers in the contest.

Despite the loss, there were notable takeaways for the Pistons. With this game, Detroit improved to 9-6 in January, marking their first winning month since March 2019, even after the setback of losing point guard Jaden Ivy to a broken leg on January 1. The Pistons managed to cut a 20-point deficit in the second quarter down to single digits for a considerable portion of the third quarter, demonstrating their resilience despite the Pacers’ outstanding shooting performance.

On the other hand, the Pacers, who began the season with a 10-15 record, have dramatically turned around their performance. They have now won 16 out of their last 21 games, including a remarkable run of 10 victories in 12 games throughout January, closely resembling their performance from their run to the Eastern Conference finals last season.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Pistons narrowed the gap to 111-105 during the fourth quarter, but the Pacers responded with a critical 9-2 run that helped them secure the victory.

Statistically, the first half was spectacular, as Siakam and Haliburton combined for an astounding 43 points on 16 of 20 shooting, including five 3-pointers made out of eight attempts.

The Pistons are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, while the Pacers will be facing the Atlanta Hawks at home on Saturday.