The Indiana Pacers will face off against the Detroit Pistons tonight at 7:00 PM ET in Indianapolis, Indiana at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers lost the first game of the back-to-back stand last night against the Atlanta Hawks, which the Hawks were victorious 102-96. The game against Detroit will be the second game in as many days for Indiana and it starts a three game home stand for the Pacers.

Last Meeting Against Detroit

The Pacers and Pistons have met three times this season, with the Pacers winning two-of-three games. In the last matchup, which was January 2nd in Indianapolis, Paul George helped lift the Pacers over the Pistons after an incredible fourth quarter. In that quarter, George went on to score 21 of his game high 32 points to push Indiana to victory. In that game Paul George recorded a double-double, as he also grabbed 14 rebounds for the Pacers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Pistons with 16 points. Andre Drummond, who has been a rebounding machine this season, pulled down game high 18 rebounds.

Rivalry Renewed

In the end of that game back in January, there was a little scuffle between Marcus Morris and George. It started when George tried to come up with a steal towards the end of the game and Morris reacted in an awful way. He went on to push George, and the two then exchanged some words, and eventually coaches and players from both teams were out on the court. Morris and George both went on to get fined by the NBA for the scuffle.

Strong Down Low

The Pistons have caused the Pacers a lot of trouble down in the paint throughout the season. The Pistons outscored the Pacers in points in the paint in the last game, 42-26. Most of that was because of Drummond, an All-Star center, who made Indiana work down low. The forwards of the Pacers will have to be very solid tonight and make sure they keep track of Drummond, and the other Detroit forwards and centers. It is important to note that the Pacers might be without starting center Ian Mahinmi though. Mahinmi is listed as questionable for the game tonight with a sore lower back.

Big Game For The Pacers

Any division game is usually big, especially if it’s at home. Tonight will be even more important because the Pacers are .5 behind the Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons currently hold the seventh seed, while the Pacers hold the eighth seed. A victory for Indiana would move them to seventh, and bump the Pistons to eighth in the standings.

Projected Starters:

Pistons: PG: Reggie Jackson, SG: Stanley Johnson, SF: Ersan Ilyasova, PF: Marcus Morris, C: Andre Drummond.

Pacers: PG: George Hill, SG: Monta Ellis, SF: Paul George, PF: Myles Turner, C: Jordan Hill.

Injuries:

Pistons: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope- out (muscle strain), Jodie Meeks- out (right foot).

Pacers: Ian Mahinmi- questionable (sore back), Rodney Stuckey- out (right foot).