5 most difficult challenges on the Indiana Pacers schedule
By Joe Lyon
![Rick Carlisle, Indiana pacers (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Rick Carlisle, Indiana pacers (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/50822fbabf4c55c056077257b0d30210172176ca0395e06f16bed2176525d51e.jpg)
3. The second night of a back-to-back against Phoenix, 1/26
The Pacers will take on the Sun in a back to back in the month of January, easily the most daunting part of the schedule for the Blue and Gold. And not only is this a back-to-back, it’s the fourth back-to-back in as many weeks for the Pacers. January will be a tough test for Indiana to see if they are ready to throw punches with the best teams in the league.
The icing of the cake, of course, is getting to play Phoenix at the end of all of the back-to-back games. And the Suns are the leagues newest super team, having added Bradley Beal in the offseason. So the main core of the Suns is now Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Deandre Ayton. That is a daunting task for any team at any point in time, but will be especially difficult after the month the Pacers will have.