The Indiana Pacers will host the Detroit Pistons at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday.

The Pacers (3-25) aim to open the second half of the 2023-24 NBA season on a solid note. Armed by an impressive 17-11 mark at home, Indiana is vying for a playoff spot, and the team couldn’t have wished for a better opponent to re-start their NBA season after a much-needed All-Star break. The Pacers enter this game having won three of their last five games, and they marched into the break with a high morale following a 127-125 road win over the Toronto Raptors. Indiana has looked good after adding Pascal Siakam via trade, but this team will go as far as Tyrese Haliburton can carry it. The All-Star guard is averaging 21.8 points and 11.7 assists per game, leading the team in both categories.

Jalen Smith (back) is considered a game-time call for Thursday. Aaron Nesmith (lower leg) is out.

The Pistons (8-46) have one goal for the second half of the 2023-24 NBA season: to end the campaign with the highest possible chance of winning the draft lottery. Detroit is having a season to forget despite embarking on another rebuilding season. Still, the team has seen improvement from players such as Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, while Ausar Thompson has shown flashes of being a potential building block at times. The Pistons have been struggling badly when it comes to their road play, however, and they enter this game on a three-game losing skid while posting a 4-23 mark away from home. Cunningham has been their brightest spot so far, averaging 21.9 points and 7.5 assists per game, leading the team in both categories.

Isaiah Stewart (ankle), Cade Cunningham (knee) and Quentin Grimes (knee) are all game-time calls for Thursday.