Mathurin and Haliburton shine as the Pacers defeat the Pistons

Bennedict Mathurin scored 30 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 131-123 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 14 points and 16 assists in the team's first game since a 123-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA In-Season Tournament championship on Saturday. Detroit's losing skid is the longest in team history and equals the NBA's longest since the Houston Rockets went 20 games without a win in 2020-21. Between the end of the 1979-80 season and the start of the 1980-81 season, Detroit suffered 21 consecutive losses as well. 

Indiana was leading by 98-93 at the start of the fourth quarter. Later with six minutes remaining, the Pacers led 115-108 thanks to Aaron Nesmith's sole 3-pointer of the first six minutes. Turner's three-point play made it a 10-point game, and Haliburton's six straight points made it 129-114 with 3:31 remaining.