In the first half, Saddiq Bey looked like he was heading for another 50-point game. It didn’t quite end up that way, but Bey had an impressive performance with 20 of his 31 points in the first quarter.
The piecemeal reserve unit held things together, pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and held on for the Pistons’ third straight win, 121-118, over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pistons (23-56) opened their final week of the regular season with a win, with three games remaining on the schedule.
Frank Jackson finished with 19 points and four assists and Rodney McGruder 13 points and five rebounds. Carsen Edwards, who signed with the Pistons earlier Sunday, had 13 points and nine assists in his debut.
Bey made his first six 3-pointers and had 18 of the Pistons’ first 22 points, helping them to a six-point lead. He had a lay-in at the 1:31 mark to finish with 20 in the quarter. Bey played sparingly in the second half and finished with his seventh career 30-point game, as the Pistons had a season-high 21 3-pointers.
Tyrese Haliburton finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and 17 assists for the Pacers (25-54), who have lost seven straight games.
