Despite a suspended Bennedict Mathurin and a hobbled Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers produced quite the performance on Thursday. The Detroit Pistons are one of the brightest aspects of the 2024-25 season, but the Pacers' recent surge didn't care for such a feel-good story. The Pacers' frontline dominated the Pistons in a 111-100 road victory.

This may be the start of another rivalry between the Pistons and the Pacers, if head coach JB Bickerstaff's words are any indication.

Although the Indiana Pacers momentarily held the fifth seed, they've since regressed one spot following Tuesday's 127-117 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their placement is in danger on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons, and the Pacers vs. Pistons injury report evokes stress for fans.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin has been suspended one game without pay after bumping into and verbally abusing a referee during Tuesday night's match a

Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin has been suspended by the NBA for one game without pay due to “inappropriate contact and verbally abusing a game official” during Tuesday’s game

Pacers: Aaron Nesmith (left ankle sprain) returned after missing 2 1/2 months and Haliburton (groin) was back after sitting out Indiana’s last game. Nesmith started with Bennedict Mathurin suspended for bumping official Natalie Sago in Tuesday’s loss to Cleveland.

Here are 5 things to know for Thursday's matchup between the Indiana Pacers (22-19) and Detroit Pistons (21-19).

Myles Turner scored 28 points, Pascal Siakam added 26 and the Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 111-100 on Thursday night. Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points and eight assists as the Pacers won for the seventh time in eight games.

The NBA announced on Wednesday that they are suspending the Indiana Pacers swingman Mathurin for one game without pay due to his actions in Tuesday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In their release, the league cited Mathurin “making inappropriate contact with and verbally abusing a game official” as the reasons for the suspension.

Unfortunately for the Indiana Pacers, they learned the hard way after their 127-117 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Pacers Bennedict Mathurin suffered a brutal NBA -administered punishment.

Bennedict Mathurin bumped Natalie Sago while complaining about a foul call and has been suspended one game without pay