Danny Granger’s 32 helps Pacers sweep Pistons, 98-83

Granger’s 32 helps Pacers sweep Pistons, 98-83

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Danny Granger scored 32 points and the Indiana Pacers snapped a nine-game road losing streak with a 98-83 victory over the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night.

Indiana is just 20-46 against the rest of the NBA, but beat Detroit in all four meetings this season — the first time the Pacers swept a season series with the Pistons.

Detroit was officially eliminated from the playoff race with the loss, ending an eight-year streak of postseason appearances.

Brandon Rush scored 20 points for Indiana, while Troy Murphy added 10 points and 12 rebounds. Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 14.

The Pistons lost starting point guard Will Bynum in the first half with a back bruise, then coach John Kuester was ejected for arguing a call in the third quarter.

Indiana led by double figures in the first quarter, but only held a 52-49 advantage at the half. The Pacers regained the momentum in the third, moving the margin to 13 in the aftermath of Kuester’s ejection.

The Pacers led by 11 going into the fourth and were never seriously threatened down the stretch.

NOTES: Ben Wallace sat out for the 10th time in 11 games with sore knees. … The Pacers have beaten the Pistons six straight times, their longest streak over Detroit since a six-game game run spanning the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons. … Ben Gordon was called for a flagrant foul for elbowing Granger in the head in the fourth.