Caris LeVert had a season-high 19 points, including a pair of clutch free throws in the final seconds, as the visiting Detroit Pistons tied a franchise record with their 13th straight victory, 122-117 over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Detroit never trailed after the second quarter, but had to hold on in the final minutes as the Pacers cut an 11-point lead down to two with 15.4 seconds left.
Cade Cunningham made one free throw, the last of his team-high 24 points, with 12.4 seconds left to give Detroit a 120-117 lead. Indiana called timeout, advanced the ball up the court and ran an inbounds play giving Bennedict Mathurin a good look at a three, but it skipped off the rim. LeVert made a pair of free throws to seal it with 7.1 remaining.
Pascal Siakam had 24 to lead the Pacers, who have lost 10 of their last 11. Jarace Walker had a career high 21 points off the bench for Indiana.
Cunningham added 11 rebounds and six assists. Jalen Duren had a double-double for Detroit with 17 points and 12 boards.
The Pistons also won 13 straight games in 1989-1990 and 2003-04, winning the NBA title both seasons.
Detroit made the game’s first big run with a 12-0 spurt that included a corner three by Tobias Harris to go up 20-10 with 5:54 left in the first quarter.
Indiana rebounded to claim a 32-30 lead with under a minute in the first. That burst was the last time the Pacers had sustained success in the first half.
With the score tied at 43 and nine minutes left to go in the half, Detroit broke away with a 20-5 run. The run was capped by a six-point trip. Siakam was called for a flagrant foul on a closeout of Harris while he was shooting a three. Harris made all three free throws. On the subsequent possession, LeVert drained a three from the wing for a 63-48 lead.
Detroit went without a field goal for the final 3:20 of the first half, but still led 71-55 at the break.
The Pacers made a strong challenge in the third, cutting the lead to five after two free throws by Jay Huff, but Detroit closed the quarter on a 12-4 run to push the lead back up to 13.
It was the same story in the fourth. Detroit led by 14 with five minutes left after an elbow jumper by Harris, only for the Pacers to rally again.
Detroit has won both meetings this season.
