Pacers halt three-game skid with 97-94 win at Phoenix
PHOENIX -- Monta Ellis scored 20 points, Paul George had 19 and the Indiana Pacers beat the Phoenix Suns 97-94 on Tuesday night to end a three-game losing streak.
George added eight rebounds and Myles Turner scored 15 points for Indiana.
Devin Booker had a career-high 32 points for the Suns, who lost for the 14th time in 15 games and fifth in a row. Brandon Knight added 21 points.
The Suns fought back to trail 95-92 with 3.8 seconds left after an off-balance 3-pointer by Knight, but the Suns didn't have enough time to complete the comeback. Phoenix shot just 34.6 percent from the floor.
Joe Young's 3 made it 71-51 Indiana with 3:08 to go, part of the rookie's 11 points. George scored nine points in the third quarter, but the Suns scored 10 straight and ended the third with a high-flying dunk by Archie Goodwin with 0.9 seconds left to make the score 71-61.
The Pacers lost center Ian Mahinmi to a sprained left ankle with 52.9 seconds left in the first half. Mahinmi was going for a loose ball and came down on the back of Ellis, landing awkwardly on his left leg and crashing to the floor. Mahinmi was back after missing the Pacers' game at Denver on Sunday with a sore left heel.
Mahinmi did not play in the second half and was replaced by Turner to begin the second half.
Suns starter Markieff Morris left with a strained right shoulder before halftime and did not play in the second half. He was replaced by Mirza Teletovic to start the third quarter, but Teletovic was injured in the third quarter and did not return.
TIP-INS
PACERS: F George Hill missed his second straight game for personal reasons. ... G Rodney Stuckey missed his fourth straight game due to a sprained right ankle and bone bruise.
SUNS: F Jon Leuer did not play after feeling back spasms during pregame warmups. ... C Alex Len returned after missing three straight games with a sprained left hand, playing 21 minutes and pulling down 12 rebounds.
MYLES OF MOMENTUM
Turner's energy gave the Pacers a lift in the second quarter. Turner emphatically swatted away layup attempts by Booker and Knight for goaltending calls on defense, but knocked down back-to-back jumpers to help the Pacers keep a sizable lead. He waved his arms and shouted in celebration after the second make. Turner was whistled for goaltending on a third shot late in the fourth quarter, but the call was overturned.
UP NEXT
PACERS: At Golden State on Friday night.
SUNS: Host San Antonio on Thursday night.
