Coty Davis asks Isaiah Stewart about Javonte Green’s 20 points in victory over Indiana.
Coty Davis asks Isaiah Stewart about Javonte Green’s 20 points in victory over Indiana.
Detroit — It’s uncommon for a reigning conference champion to start the season at the bottom of the standings, but that has become the current situation for the Indiana Pacers.
It has become the Pacers’ new reality as their star player, Tyrese Haliburton, watched from the sidelines at Little Caesars Arena as Indiana got throttled, 127-112, by the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. The win gave the Pistons their 10th consecutive victory, improving their overall record to 12-2 and extending their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.
“I think that says a lot about our team,” forward Isaiah Stewart said. “It shows how connected we are, how hungry we are, and how bad we want it. We think we can win any game, any given day we step on that court.”
For a team that still had six players out due to injury, Jalen Duren was the only one who returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games because of a right ankle sprain. In his return, Duren continued to dominate from the inside with 31 points on 12-of-13 shooting, 15 rebounds, and three assists, making his presence known during the second quarter, where he scored 12.
At the 10:36 mark of the period, Duren executed a crossover step-back jumper from the top of the foul line, showcasing his improved ball-handling skills. A minute later, he completed a one-handed alley-oop slam over Bennedict Mathurin, which was assisted by Daniss Jenkins.
“I’m just being aggressive,” Duren said. “I work on my game every day and try to get better every day. I’ve been taking what the defense has given me and not forcing anything. I’ve just been playing my game to the best of my ability.”
Duren showed no signs of rust amid his return. While recording his eighth double-double of the season, he became the first player since Hall of Famer Dwight Howard to score at least 30 points and 15 or more rebounds while shooting 90% or better from the floor. Howard achieved the feat in 2010 as a member of the Orlando Magic.
“We knew after finishing last year what our expectations were of him and how we were going to most improve,” Bickerstaff said. “It was one of those things that, organizationally, we made the decision to continue to grow our young players, and give them all a plan to see them grow. JD executed the plan and worked all summer long to get himself in position to do what he’s done.”
Cade Cunningham (hip) and Ausar Thompson (ankle) remained sidelined; however, before the game, Bickerstaff noted that both players are “trending in the right direction” in their recovery. Thompson did participate in his usual pregame routine, but he was ultimately ruled out for the fourth consecutive game. Cunningham has now missed three.
BOX SCORE: Pistons 127, Pacers 112
Bobi Klintman was the latest player to be added to the Pistons’ injury report due to an ankle sprain. Bickerstaff revealed Klintman will be out a while.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 29 points and six rebounds, while Bennedict Mathurin added 25 points (7-of-16 FG), 23 of which came in the second half.
“Our defense; that’s the most important thing for us,” Bickerstaff said. “When we commit to the defensive end of the floor, it triggers everything we do offensively. We feel like we’re an elite transition basketball team, so when we’re getting stops, it gives our guys an opportunity to get out and create early opportunities.”
Observations and notes
Keeping composure while gaining respect: Daniss Jenkins has earned the respect of his opponents. For the second consecutive game, they attempted to distract him by trash-talking, but Jenkins has been able to maintain his focus.
Throughout the first half, Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell engaged in trash-talk with Jenkins. During a heated conversation with Nembhard, Jenkins received a technical foul in the first quarter. Although he was struggling at that moment, he managed to regain his composure and put in another impressive performance.
Jenkins recorded a career-best 26 points and seven assists. He scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to prevent the Pistons from blowing a once-24-point lead.
“He makes our job as coaches easier,” Bickerstaff said. “He understands the game as a whole. He finds some of it and figures out his parts, but he knows how to break it down for the big picture. He knows how to get people organized and communicates with them. He can score the ball. He can create for himself. He makes our job and his teammates’ job easier.”
“When you have a conversation with Daniss, there is a confidence to him. You gotta have that to survive.”
Bickerstaff speaks on Daniss Jenkins stepping up for the #Pistons amid their injury woes. He has averaged 20.3 points, 7.7 assists & 2.3 steals over the last three games. pic.twitter.com/FbsPGSlj58
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) November 17, 2025
Holland making winning plays: Ron Holland has significantly struggled on the offensive end this season, but his contributions on the defensive end remain impactful. Against the Pacers, he delivered one of his most effective performances of the season, contributing several stops.
A standout moment occurred near the end of the second quarter when he forced Siakam into taking an ill-advised 3-point shot. Holland not only recorded two blocks but also managed to secure a couple of 50-50 balls, creating more offensive opportunities for Detroit.
“He just wants to win,” Bickerstaff said. “He does whatever is needed in the moment to win. … He does whatever the team needs him to do.”
Javonte has the green light: The Pistons received a significant scoring boost from Javonte Green. He scored 20 points off the bench, marking the second consecutive game he scored 20 or more. In addition to his scoring, Green maintained his defensive production by adding a pair of steals.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
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