Even so, the Pacers are sixth in the East, a far cry from where they were to start the season after a 6-10 start. They have slowly made progress to get back to where they thought

The Indiana Pacers will visit the Detroit Pistons on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena. Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith are questionable on the team's injury report. Haliburton is dealing with a left groin strain, while Nesmith has a left ankle sprain.

It may have seemed odd that Rick Carlisle appeared pleased to announce in his pre-game news conference Tuesday that his All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has a mild groin strain, but that was because of what he was reporting that the injury was not.