Midwest Malice: Pistons vs. Pacers History & Upcoming Game Information

When Do the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers Play Next?

Detroit Pistons tickets and Indiana Pacers tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers Rivals?

Yes, the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers have a rivalry within the Eastern Conference. Because of the close proximity between Detroit and Indianapolis, the Pacers and Pistons have a rivalry that runs deep.

Who are the Detroit Pistons’ Biggest Rivals?

Thanks to repeated matchups against Michael Jordan’s legendary teams, the Pistons’ biggest rivalry is with the Chicago Bulls. The Bad Boy Pistons and Jordan’s Bulls played against each other in three consecutive postseasons from 1988-1990. The Pistons also have geographic rivalries with the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as historic rivalries with the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Who are the Indiana Pacers’ Biggest Rivals?

Historically, the Pacers have an intense rivalry with the New York Knicks that dates back to the ‘90s when Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing were superstars. The Pacers also have rivalries with the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.

Game Results Between the Pistons & Pacers

The Pistons and Pacers have played each other 209 times heading into the 2024 season, with Indiana narrowly holding the edge, 107-102. The Pistons have the longest win streak, rallying off nine consecutive wins between 1984-1985.

Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers History

The most notable game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers was a regular season game on November 19, 2004. The Pacers had a commanding 15-point lead with less than a minute left in play. Pistons All-Star center Ben Wallace had a layup under the rim and was fouled hard from behind by Pacers small forward Metta World Peace (formerly known as Ron Artest).

A fight broke out between Wallace and Artest that expanded to several players from each team. Players were separated and things began to calm down until Artest, who was lying on the scorer’s table to hear if he’d be ejected, was hit with a drink from the stands by a Pistons fan. Artest, followed by several of his teammates, leapt into the stands and grabbed a fan to fight him. Drinks and punches were thrown amidst chaos and the scene escalated to a full fledged brawl between players from both teams and fans.

The incident is known as the “Malice at the Palace.” Nine players were suspended by the NBA, including Artest and Walace, who got a total of 146 games between them. Five players were charged with assault in court and five fans also received the same charges (in addition to being banned from Piston home games for life). The game was never completed and there hasn’t been an NBA incident between fans and players of that magnitude since.

Where Do the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons Play?

The home of the Indiana Pacers is Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, Gainbridge Fieldhouse was originally opened in 1999 and went by Conseco Fieldhouse. The arena has a seating capacity of 17,274 for Pacers games but also hosts the Indiana Fever WNBA team and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for the NBA G League.

Little Caesars Arena replaced the Palace at Auburn Hills as the Pistons’ home arena in 2017. It hosts both Pistons games and Detroit Red Wings NHL games. It has a max capacity of 20,332 for Pistons games and 19,515 for Red Wing games. Little Caesars Arena features a unique plastic roofed concourse which connects nearby offices and shops that surround the building.