Dawn is creeping on the Phoenix Suns and the days continue to get darker after a grim 126-108 loss to the Indiana Pacers, marking their fourth-straight loss and ninth in their last 12 games.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Despite another desperate effort from All-Star forward Kevin Durant, the Suns brass just couldn’t do enough to lift the team over Tyrese Haliburton’s 27 points, eight assists and zero turnovers.
Just like their final game of 2024, the Suns start 2025 with another crippling loss. Here are the takeaways from Phoenix reaching a new low against the Pacers in Indiana:
– All-Star guard Bradley Beal came into the game questionable with a hip contusion that took him out of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies after playing just 12 minutes. After going through pregame warmups, Beal was good to go for the game and returned from injury not missing any time.
– However, the injury… or should I say, illness… bug bit the Suns just under an hour before tip-off. Tyus Jones and rookie Oso Ighodaro were listed questionable then out due to an illness that coach Mike Budenholzer said may be running through the league, leaving the Suns more shorthanded than they were entering the game.
– The Suns started the game down 7-0 on five early Myles Turner points and two costly turnovers, a trend for Phoenix this season. Despite the start, Phoenix battled back offensively and cut the lead to 15-11 with 6:24 remaining despite the Pacers starting starting 7-for-12 (58%) from the field.
– Kevin Durant poured in 10 early points in the first quarter, giving the Suns just a one-point deficit heading into the second frame down 30-29 to the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton was the game’s second highest scorer after one with nine points.
– Fan-favorite Bol Bol was tasked with important minutes at the center position with Ighodaro sick and Jusuf Nurkic serving the final game of his suspension for his altercation with Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall on Christmas Day. His first stint was impactful with five points and two blocks.
– Bradley Beal took a charge midway through the second quarter and seemed to reaggravate his hip. Walking gingerly, he continued playing the rest of the half.
– The Pacers’ fast-paced and agile offense kept them in the game despite Durant’s 14 points (6-for-9 FG), five rebounds and four assists and Devin Booker’s nine points, four rebounds and seven assists. It took the Suns going on a 7-0 run to close the half to tie the game 56-56.
– With the depth slim at center, Kevin Durant was tasked with running the position for multiple stretches. The Suns actually looked good in the Durant-center minutes because they were able to switch easily defensively and space the floor more offensively. In the first half, the Suns were a +7 with Plumlee off the floor and, with Plumlee starting the second half, gave up a 19-9 run to open the third quarter to go down 75-65 with 7:56 remaining.
– Phoenix continues to struggle limiting the amount of offensive rebounds they allow. After Obi Toppin soared in for a potential putback dunk that sent him to the line after getting fouled, the Pacers had 10 offensive rebounds to the Suns’ four with 3:46 remaining in the third quarter.
– Indiana strikes again. The Pacers scored 40 (!) points in the third quarter and extended their lead to 12. Five Pacers came out of the third in double figures. Only three Suns — Durant (21), Booker (15) and Dunn (11) — scored double-digit points down 96-84 heading into the final quarter.
Coach Budenholzer has talked a lot about "randomness" helping the Suns' offense figure itself out. I fear there's starting to be an overreliance in that "randomness" when Phoenix is down and desperation sets in. #SunsUp
— Connor Moreno (@cmorenosports) January 5, 2025
– Grayson Allen provided a need boost off the bench. After scoring his 11th point, a corner three to cut the lead to seven, Indiana needed a timeout to stop the run and reinforce.
– Despite Phoenix’s efforts and promising play from multiple bench players, the Pacers just had an answer every single time. Three-straight Haliburton threes did Phoenix in and capped off a 126-108 loss, the Suns’ fourth-straight.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
