INDIANAPOLIS — Danny Granger scored 24 points and the Pacers stalled the Pistons’ bid for a higher playoff seed with a 106-102 victory Saturday night.
Indiana led by 12 early in the final quarter, but Detroit rallied and took a 102-101 lead on a basket by Richard Hamilton with 56 seconds to go. The Pacers went back in front on a spinning layup by Jarrett Jack and iced the game with one free throw by Troy Murphy with 16 seconds left and two free throws by Granger with five seconds to go. Hamilton led Detroit with 23 points.
With two games left in the regular season, Detroit has already clinched its eighth straight playoff appearance but is hoping to move up from the No. 8 seed. The Pistons began the night tied for seventh with Chicago and hosts the Bulls on Monday night.
Indiana was eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight year with a loss at Atlanta on Friday.
Brandon Rush had 21 points for the Pacers, while Jack and T.J. Ford added 18 apiece.
Tayshaun Prince scored 18 for Detroit, and Antonio McDyess and Will Bynum each added 16. Bynum had 10 points in the fourth quarter and helped rally the Pistons from a 90-78 deficit.
