Pacers vs Pistons Picks and Prediction – 10/23/2024

The Wednesday NBA schedule will tip off with a matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons from Little Caesars Arena. For other NBA action see our NBA Predictions. Last season, the Pacers finished a game above .500 on the road and were swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals. Indiana ranked second in the NBA in offensive efficiency and were fueled on offense by All-Star PG Tyrese Haliburton, who led the league in assists (10.9 apg).

Indiana acquired versatile F Pascal Siakam (21.3 ppg) in a trade with Toronto and proceeded to go 30-21 with him on the roster. The Pacers averaged a league best 46.8 points off the bench and must improve a defense that ranked in the bottom third in efficiency. 

The Detroit Pistons dropped 32 of 41 home games and finished with the worst overall record a season ago. The Pistons replaced head coach Monty Williams with J.B. Bickerstaff, who won 99 games the last two years in Cleveland. New president of basketball operations Trajon Langdon has improved the roster with the additions of Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, and Tim Hardaway Jr..

The biggest question for Detroit heading into the season will be if former number one overall draft pick Cade Cunningham is a superstar worth building around. Cunningham has improved his scoring average in each of the last three years, but has played in just 138 games over that stretch. 

Detroit F Ausar Thompson is dealing with an illness and there is currently no timetable for this return. The Pacers have defensive issues that make them hard to trust on the road. Look for the Pistons to play inspired in their home opener and pull off the upset. FinalScore Prediction, Detroit Pistons win 119-115.