Now that the Indiana Pacers are officially out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, they now can turn their attention to a role that have been rather proficient at the past three seasons: the role of spoiler.  In their game Saturday against the Detroit Pistons, they obviously had little to lose as they hoped to keep the Pistons from gaining a better seeding in the conference playoffs.  A late rally, capped by free throws by Danny Granger with 5 seconds left in the game, helped Indiana edge Detroit 106-102 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana’s largest lead in the first half was 35-27 early in the second quarter when a 3-point play by T.J. Ford capped a 10-0 Pacers run; they would take a narrow 52-49 lead into their locker room at halftime.  The Pacers regained a 99-95 lead on a 3-point play by Jarrett Jack, but Rip Hamilton drained a 3-pointer for Detroit, pulling them to within two points with 2:09 left to go in the game; two more lead changes would take place before Jack scored a go-ahead basket.

The Pistons would rally and take a 102-101 lead on a basket by Hamilton with 56 ticks left on the game clock; the Pacers would regain the lead on a layup by Jack and seal the win on a free throw by Granger with 5 seconds remaining.

Indiana’s high scorer was Granger with 24 points, 3 rebounds and a steal while Brandon Rush added 21 (including five 3-pointers) with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a block; Jack and Ford chipped in 18 each – with Jack grabbing 2 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists along with a steal while Ford grabbed a rebound, dished out 5 assists along with a 2 steals.

Detroit was led by Hamilton with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists while Tayshaun Prince added 18 with3 rebounds and an assist; Antonio McDyess and Will Bynum chipped in 16 apiece – with McDyess grabbing 15 boards, dishing out an assist along with a steal and a block while Bynum grabbed 4 rebounds, dished out 6 assists along with a steal.  Indiana (35-45) plays again on Monday when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers while Detroit (39-41) returns home to host the Chicago Bulls – also on Monday night.