Pistons hand Pacers first home defeat of season

Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, left, defends Detroit Pistons forward Josh Smith in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. The Pistons defeated the Pacers 101-96. AP

INDIANAPOLIS – Josh Smith scored 30 points and Greg Monroe added 13 as the Detroit Pistons dealt the Indiana Pacers their first home defeat of the NBA season Monday, 101-96.

Indiana, winners of their first 11 home games this season, went into the game as one of just two teams without a defeat on their home court.

Now only the Thunder, 12-0 in Oklahoma City so far this campaign, remain unbeaten at home.

Monroe added 12 rebounds as the Pistons notched just their second victory in six games.

Brandon Jennings had 18 points and eight assists.

Pacers guard Lance Stephenson netted a career-high 23 points with seven rebounds and six assists in the setback.

Paul George tallied 17 points with nine rebounds and Luis Scola scored 18 off the bench for Indiana.

Detroit led by 10 early in the fourth period before Scola netted six points in an 8-0 Pacers run that closed the gap to 89-87 with 4:55 remaining.

Smith ended the run with an alley-oop from Jennings, who drained a three-pointer for a five-point lead.

Stephenson’s three-pointer with 1:17 to play again cut the Pacers’ deficit to two points but Indiana couldn’t get any closer.

Eastern Conference leaders Indiana will try to regroup before heading to Miami on Wednesday for a clash with the two-time defending champion Heat.

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