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Pacers suplex Pistons 133-119 on WWE Night

NORAL PARHAM
NORAL PARHAM
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.

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The Indiana Pacers delivered a knockout performance, defeating the Detroit Pistons 133-119 on Jan. 29 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.Ā 

The showdown doubled as WWE Night, a promotion bringing out the best in the Pacers, WWE superstars Montez Ford and Bianca Belair and a raucous Indianapolis crowd celebrating a jam-packed sports weekend.Ā 

Pascal Siakam led the charge for Indiana with a game-high 37 points on an efficient 15-of-21 shooting, including four three-pointers. Tyrese Haliburton added 30 points and eight assists, while Myles Turner dominated the paint with 24 points and seven rebounds. The Pacers shot a scorching 56.8% from the field and knocked down 19 three-pointers, setting the tone early and maintaining control throughout the contest. 

It was the most points for Siakam in a contest since the Pacers acquired him last season. 

“He was tremendous,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He was a big part to our great start to the game. As it went on, he kept making timely plays. He was absolutely stellar.”

Siakam joked about his performance:  

“Damn, I need to score more.”

With Friday Night Smackdown and Royal Rumble set for the weekend of Jan. 31 in Indianapolis, WWE’s presence was felt throughout the building. A few fans received a special edition Tyrese Haliburton bobblehead featuring the Pacers star draped in a WWE championship belt.

More: The economic impact of WWE in Indianapolis

Pistons Isaiah Stewart on WWE Night against the Pacers.
Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart driving the paint during the NBA game agqainst the Indiana Pacers, on WWE Night, on Janaury 29, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)

Ford and Belair, two of WWE’s most electrifying performers, also attended and received custom Pacers city edition jerseys.

Back on the hardwood, the Pacers wasted no time bringing their own brand of theatrics, sprinting to a 40-33 lead in the first frame behind hot shooting from Haliburton and Siakam. Detroit fought back behind Cade Cunningham’s 32-point outing, but Indiana’s offensive efficiency and deep shooting proved too much for the Pistons.

Montez Ford and Bianca Belair during WWE Night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
WWE personalities Montez Ford and Bianca Belair during WWE Night between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons on January 29, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo/Walt Thomas)

In a fitting twist on WWE Night, tensions boiled over in the second quarter when Pistons center Isaiah Stewart committed a flagrant foul on Thomas Bryant, sending the Pacers big man to the floor. The hard foul nearly led to a benches-clearing altercation as the crowd, no doubt aware of the infamous ‘Malice at the Palace,’ held its collective breath.

More: WWE Friday Night Smackdown in Indy

“We knew it was going to be one of those games,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “It was going to be competitive. It was going to be physical. It was going to be chippy. There were moments where we lost our cool and it impacted the way we played.” 

The officials restored order, ejecting Stewart from the contest.

Indiana responded to the physical play by pushing the pace and stretching the lead to 20 points before the end of the first half. While the Pistons made periodic runs, they never threatened to regain the lead. 

The Pacers improved to 26-20 while the Pistons fell to 23-24.  

The Pacers take on the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 1 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the same day as the Royal Rumble, happening only a few blocks away.


Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on TikTok @3Noral.Ā For more sports, click here.

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