Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points to lead six Indiana scorers in double figures and the Pacers bookended the second half with big runs to send the Phoenix Suns to a fourth consecutive loss with a 126-108 victory on Saturday in Indianapolis.
It also marked the Suns’ seventh loss in their past eight games.
Indiana opened the second half with a 19-9 run that lasted just over four minutes and gave the Pacers a lead that they held the rest of the way.
Phoenix stayed within striking distance behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, but the Suns never got closer than six following the Pacers’ run to open the third quarter. Durant finished with 25 points for the game, while Booker collected 20.
Indiana put the contest to bed with a 13-4 run over the game’s final 4:08. Haliburton hit three of his five 3-pointers on the night during that closing stretch.
The Pacers went 15-for-40 from long distance while Phoenix put together a 12-for-30 showing.
Myles Turner was 7-for-11 shooting from inside the arc en route to 20 points for Indiana. His rim-rattling dunk over Booker, set up by a back cut and an assist from Andrew Nembhard in the third quarter, electrified the home crowd.
Turner joined all four of Indiana’s other starters with at least one 3-pointer, going 2-for-6 from deep.
Nembhard hit both of his attempts from 3-point range and was 3-for-3 from the floor for nine points to go along with seven assists. Bennedict Mathurin added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Pascal Siakam finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Pacers also got double-figure scoring performances from reserves Obi Toppin (12 points) and Ben Sheppard (10). Phoenix reserves Monte Morris and Grayson Allen scored 12 and 13 points, respectively, with Allen hitting three of his seven 3-point attempts in his return from concussion protocol and left shoulder soreness.
The teams were tied at 56 at the break. Neither led by more than seven in the first 24 minutes of action. – Rappler.com
