On 3-game slide, Suns take on improving Pacers

The three-game Eastern Conference road swing that Phoenix begins on Saturday in Indianapolis against the Indiana Pacers marks a pivotal point in the Suns' season.

Phoenix comes in on a three-game losing streak and with defeats in six of its last seven following Tuesday's 117-112 home setback to Memphis. The Suns open the 2025 portion of their slate two games below .500 and in 11th place in the Western Conference, 1 1/2 games out of the final play-in spot.

Kevin Durant is averaging 32.1 points per game over this seven-game stretch, up from his 27.7 season average. Phoenix was without two-time All-NBA guard and 24.7 ppg scorer Devin Booker for five of the seven contests, the result of a groin injury sustained in the Suns' last matchup with Indiana.

Phoenix dropped that Dec. 19 meeting with the Pacers 120-111 as seven Indiana scorers posted double-figures. Pascal Siakam's 25 points and 18 rebounds led the Pacers, while Tyrese Haliburton went for 13 points and 12 assists.

In his return on Tuesday, Booker scored 16 and dished nine assists but shot just 4-of-20 from the floor.

"I got a lot of good looks. I think just playing a few more games and getting back to regular minutes (will help shots go in), but there's no excuse for it," Booker said. "Especially around the rim. Trusting that last step, trusting that last burst is something that will take a few games to get acquainted with.

"Frustration level is high. We realize these games are going to cost us at the end of the season. So you want to do your work early, pre-All-Star break."

Indiana finds itself in similar territory, aiming to build momentum before February's All-Star Game. After a challenging first month, the Pacers have improved to one game below .500 and enter Saturday in eighth place in the Eastern Conference after Thursday's 128-115 win at Miami.

Haliburton made 6 of 13 3-point attempts en route to 33 points while also distributing 15 assists. It marked his second game with at least 31 points in Indiana's last three outings and his first double-double since a 16-point, 12-assist performance Dec. 23 at Golden State.

Haliburton, the NBA's assists leader in 2023-24 with 10.9 per game, is averaging 8.8 this season.

"For him, developing the feel of when to be the aggressive scorer when he gets on a run like this and when to facilitate and get other guys involved...that's going to continue to be the balance," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of Haliburton. "He's such a unique player. He came to us (via trade from Sacramento in the 2021-22 season) really as a (passing) point guard and he's become one of the elite scoring point guards."

In his first two full seasons in Indiana, Haliburton averaged 20.7 and 20.1 points per game, respectively, with the former a career-high. He is averaging 18.1 points this season.

Durant went for 37 points in the teams' first meeting this season.

--Field Level Media