The Indiana Pacers play host to the Detroit Pistons at Banker's Life Fieldhouse on Monday,

The Pistons (39-37) own a 16-8 record across their last 24 games, as that stretch has essentially locked up a playoff berth. The recent form isn't quite as promising though, with Detroit owning a .500 record across their last 12 games. This is a team that needs to find some rhythm headed into the postseason and many people have this team projected as a darkhorse in the Eastern Conference. The major reason why is their frontcourt, with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond running the show. That's arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA and it'll be fascinating to see how they play come playoff time.

The Pacers (45-32) come into this matchup losing seven of their last eight games, as their reeling heading into the postseason. After sitting in third for most of the season, Indiana has fallen down to fifth. While that's not a huge drop, it likely has cost them homecourt advantage in the first-round and a matchup with the Boston Celtics. That's a scary proposition for a club without Victor Oladipo(knee) and one would have to believe a quick exit is in their future if they don't start playing better. The fact that this team has stayed so competitive without Oladipo shows just how good of a team they are though, with players like Bojan Bogdanovic, Myles Turner and Darren Collison stepping up in his absence. That core has the Pacers with the best defense in the league and that's what's going to have to carry them in the postseason.

This is the third of four meetings between these teams, with these clubs splitting the first two meetings. In fact, the home team has prevailed in both outings.