Indiana Pacers Lose Season Series To the Suns of Phoenix

Phoenix Suns (28-18) 102

Indiana Pacers (35-10) 94

Jan 30, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) passes the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Gerald Green and center Miles Plumlee (22) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Phoenix defeats Indiana 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsIt’s a good thing I am not a betting man as I would have lost out on some of the predictions I had for tonight’s game. I missed on the Suns not getting under 95 points. I whiffed on the Pacers hitting for 100 points. I took a bad swing at the Pacers getting the win as their home winning streak gets snapped. It gets snapped to a team that beat them twice in about a week. Good thing the Suns play out in the Western Conference as this series just looked like a bad draw for the Indiana Pacers.

There was some good to come out of tonight’s game as Lance Stephenson decided to show that he was indeed worthy of an All Star selection with his NBA league leading 4th triple double of the season. That ties a Pacers’ high for a season as well, and with plenty of games left, Lance Stephenson should break that mark. This is a guy that can just flat out play and do everything on the court. It’s a real shame he’s not going to be representing the team at this year’s All Star game. (More thoughts on that tomorrow)

Roy Hibbert had a strong effort in the post as he went off for 26 points, but did miss some free throws that could have made this closer. The Pacers spent a ton of effort getting close in this one as they just came out flat in that first half.

How flat were the Indiana Pacers? Just giving up 66 points in that first half tells the story. For a team that prides itself so much on the defensive side, that wasn’t a good outing at all. Luckily, Paul George got switched to cover Goran Dragic and the Pacers put together the effort in that third quarter holding Phoenix to 11 points. That’s where the Pacers were right there ready to take the lead, but they couldn’t get over that hump.

Paul George had a bad shooting night as well going for 12 points on 5-17. He needs to kick out of that soon enough for the Pacers to get going in that right direction again offensively.

The team shot horribly from three point range hitting for only one. The Suns on the other hand hit for eight. Not a great way to make sure your team is there for the win. But the Pacers did help themselves in that paint area as they went for 56 of the 94 points there.

Just a good thing the Suns won’t see the Pacers again this season as it looks like they’ve got the Blue and Gold. Who knows what is the reasoning for this one? Other than the Suns just came out and took it to the Pacers most of the way. You struggle to get back into the game, and it’s going to take an even bigger effort to win the game as the Indiana Pacers found out.