Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is a basketball lifer. He's played with Boston Celtics legends like Larry Bird. When Carlisle compliments a player, it comes from a genuine place. After Wednesday's 133-119 victory over the Detroit Pistons, the veteran head coach admired a Pacers star for his "stellar" performance.

Although the Pacers soundly beat the Pistons, they showed some physicality in the second quarter. Pistons center Isaiah Stewart committed a flagrant two-foul on Pacers backup center Thomas Bryant, earning the envelope-pushing role player a rejection.

The Pistons closed to within 111-105 in the fourth quarter before the Pacers went on a 9-2 run.

The friction between the Pacers and Pistons mostly comes from their rise out of rebuilds, but both sides said lines were crossed Wednesday.

Pascal Siakam had a season high 37 points, Tyrese Haliburton added 30 and the host Indiana Pacers fought off a strong challenge to defeat the Detroit Pistons 133-119 Wednesday night in Indianapolis.

NBA – National Basketball Association Last Night Indiana Pacers 133, Detroit Pistons 119 Boston Celtics 122, Chicago Bulls 100 Pacers 133, Pistons 119 – Siakam scores 37, Haliburton adds 30 to lead Pa

Pascal Siakam scored 37 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 30 points and eight assists, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 133-119 on Wednesday night.

The Pacers' All-Star pairing of Pascal Siakam (37 points) and Tyrese Haliburton (30 points) set an early tone.

The Indiana Pacers are back home when the Detroit Pistons visit. Tempers flared just a little when these teams met two weeks ago.

Pascal Siakam scored 37 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 30 points and eight assists, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 133-119 on Wednesday night.

Indiana's early hot streak was too much for a physical Pistons team, though they stayed with the Pacers in a 133-119 road loss.