--The Pacers and forward Danny Granger are trying to work out a last-minute contract extension of up to five years. The two sides have until Oct. 31 to agree to a deal. Granger, the Pacers' leading scorer last season, will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Pacers can match any offer made to him, if a deal isn't reached.
--Point guard Travis Diener, who missed the entire preseason with an injured left foot, said he hopes to start practicing within the next week or so. "It's been frustrating," Diener said. "You always hope to recover a little quicker. They told me it's going to be a slow process and it's coming to that reality that it is."
Diener's injury has left the Pacers with just two true point guards -- T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack -- on the roster. Marquis Daniels can play point guard if needed but coach Jim O'Brien said he would rather not have Daniels slide over from shooting guard.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't want to take anything from (the Pistons) but we didn't play good. I'm just going to stay it was first-game jitters. Everybody was turning the ball over at an alarming rate. We just have to protect the ball." -- Pacers guard Marquis Daniels, on the team's 22 turnovers.
