Game ID: 22400480
Phoenix Suns @ Indiana Pacers
Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 30 26 40 30 126PHX 29 27 28 24 108
IND vs PHX ScoutingIND vs PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
IND availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Nesmith missed 25 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 25 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 5 since 12/15, returns tonight: 9 min (66% of 14)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 14, 17 min since (92% of 18)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 34 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 26 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 26 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 14, 17 min since (95% of 18)
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/27 after 5, 9 min since (66% of 14)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 35 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 27 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 12 min (64% of 20)
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 27 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/27 after 5, 5 min since (37% of 14)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 33 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 28 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 28 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 12 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Que. Jackson back 12/27 after 5, 5 min since (37% of 14)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 35 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 29 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 29 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 16 min since (84% of 20)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 33 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 30 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 30 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 3 since 12/31, out tonight
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 16 min since (84% of 20)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 32 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 31 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 31 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 4 since 12/31, returns tonight: 1 min (10% of 14)
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 18 min since (91% of 20)
NEW Mathurin 27 to 32 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 32 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 32 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Toppin back 12/31 after 2, 19 min since (96% of 20)
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 4, 1 min since (10% of 14)
IND availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Nesmith missed 33 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Isa. Jackson missed 33 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Que. Jackson back 1/08 after 4, 1 min since (10% of 14)
PHX availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 25 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 5 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 35 min since (109% of 32)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 26 min since (109% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 17 min since (88% of 19)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 13 min since (91% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 26 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 6 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (111% of 32)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 15 min since (106% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/28 · back-to-backOUT Booker missed 4 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 27 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 7 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (113% of 32)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 17 min since (122% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Booker missed 5 since 12/21, returns tonight: 30 min (82% of 37)
OUT Allen missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 28 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 8 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 21 min since (147% of 14)
NEW Beal 32 to 38 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/04 · 3 days' restOUT Allen missed 5 since 12/23, returns tonight: 31 min (127% of 24)
OUT Nurkić missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 29 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 9 since 12/13, returns tonight: 12 min (95% of 12)
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 30 min since (82% of 37)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 22 min since (157% of 14)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT O'Neale missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Nurkić missed 3 since 12/28, returns tonight: 14 min (61% of 24)
OUT Gillespie missed 30 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 33 min since (89% of 37)
BACK Allen back 1/04 after 5, 31 min since (127% of 24)
BACK Bol back 1/04 after 9, 12 min since (95% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 14 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Morris 13 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/07 · back-to-backOUT O'Neale missed 3 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 31 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 35 min since (93% of 37)
BACK Allen back 1/04 after 5, 22 min since (93% of 24)
BACK Nurkić back 1/06 after 3, 14 min since (61% of 24)
BACK Bol back 1/04 after 9, 12 min since (95% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 14 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Morris 13 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT O'Neale missed 4 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 32 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 1/06, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 36 min since (96% of 37)
BACK Allen back 1/04 after 5, 23 min since (97% of 24)
BACK Nurkić back 1/06 after 3, 17 min since (70% of 24)
NEW Dunn 19 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Morris 13 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT O'Neale missed 5 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 33 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 3 since 1/06, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 37 min since (98% of 37)
BACK Allen back 1/04 after 5, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Nurkić back 1/06 after 3, 17 min since (70% of 24)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Haliburton at 20 and Siakam at 18 a game. Without Nesmith (29 straight), Isa. Jackson (29 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Allen (5 straight), Nurkić (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 122 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-0 a night and Phoenix minus-4. Call it Indiana 115, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/27 @ BOS 105-142 — IND notes
IND lost 105-142. IND shot 42% (38 of 91) to BOS's 51%, 11 of 39 from three. The glass went 39-52 against them. Haliburton led with 19 (6 of 13, 3 of 8 from three); Mathurin added 18, Walker 15. Q3 was theirs, 33-36, but the other 3 periods went 106-72 against them. Haliburton's -27 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 @ BOS 123-114 — IND notes
IND won 123-114. IND shot 53% (46 of 87) to BOS's 46%, 9 of 23 from three, and went to the line 27 times to BOS's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 12. Haliburton led with 31 (11 of 19, 1 of 6 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Nembhard added 17, Siakam 17. The hinge was Q2, 38-29: IND came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 16. Nembhard was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/31 vs MIL 112-120 — IND notes
IND lost 112-120. IND shot 44% (40 of 90) to MIL's 46%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 30 times to MIL's 24 — 19 points from the stripe to their 18. Mathurin led with 25 (10 of 18, 3 of 5 from three); Siakam added 20, Turner 16. Q2 was theirs, 36-23, turning a 2-point deficit into a 11-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 97-76 against them. They led by as many as 19.
1/02 @ MIA 128-115 — IND notes
IND won 128-115. IND shot 53% (51 of 96) to MIA's 57%, 17 of 40 from three. IND turned it over 6 times to MIA's 14. Haliburton led with 33 (13 of 21, 6 of 13 from three); Turner added 21, Siakam 18. The hinge was Q1, 38-25: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
1/04 vs PHX 126-108 — IND notes
IND won 126-108. IND shot 48% (46 of 96) to PHX's 49%, 15 of 40 from three. IND turned it over 6 times to PHX's 11. The glass went 47-36 for them. Haliburton led with 27 (8 of 19, 5 of 12 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Turner added 20, Siakam 15. The hinge was Q3, 40-28: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Mathurin was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/06 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 20 and K. Johnson at 16 a game. Without Simmons (2 straight), Watford (9 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Haliburton at 24 and Siakam at 17 a game. Without Nesmith (30 straight), Isa. Jackson (30 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 10 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 112 a night to Indiana's 120. Call it Brooklyn 114, Indiana 113, Indiana keeping it close.
1/08 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Siakam at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Nesmith (31 straight), Isa. Jackson (31 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; LaVine at 29 and White at 24 a game. Without Dosunmu (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 14 times a game to Indiana's 9 and the line, where Indiana takes 23 free throws a game to Chicago's 18. Call it Indiana 119, Chicago 115, Chicago keeping it close.
1/10 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Haliburton at 22 and Siakam at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Nesmith (32 straight), Isa. Jackson (32 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 14 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Wiggins at 16 a game. Without Podziemski (6 straight), Kuminga (3 straight), Post (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 9 and the line, where Indiana takes 23 free throws a game to Golden State's 14. Call it Indiana 117, Golden State 111.
1/12 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 23 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Siakam at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Nesmith (33 straight), Isa. Jackson (33 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 106 a night to Cleveland's 117. Call it Cleveland 119, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
12/25 vs DEN 110-100 — PHX notes
PHX won 110-100. PHX shot 47% (41 of 88) to DEN's 46%, 11 of 36 from three, and got to the line 20 times to DEN's 28. PHX turned it over 7 times to DEN's 16. Beal led with 27 (11 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); Durant added 27, Jones 17. The hinge was Q3, 27-22: a lead of 2 became 7, and the lead reached 15. Beal was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/27 vs DAL 89-98 — PHX notes
PHX lost 89-98. PHX shot 39% (32 of 83) to DAL's 44%, 13 of 35 from three. Durant led with 35 (11 of 19, 3 of 4 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); O'Neale added 14, Beal 11. Q3 was theirs, 25-17, the deficit cut from 16 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 81-64 against them. Beal's -13 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 @ GSW 105-109 — PHX notes
PHX lost 105-109. PHX shot 42% (39 of 92) to GSW's 42%, 9 of 35 from three. Durant led with 31 (10 of 24, 1 of 5 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Beal added 28, Dunn 15. Q2 was theirs, 38-27, turning a 7-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 82-67 against them. They led by as many as 10.
12/31 vs MEM 112-117 — PHX notes
PHX lost 112-117. PHX shot 46% (42 of 92) to MEM's 43%, 9 of 30 from three, and got to the line 25 times to MEM's 33. Durant led with 29 (11 of 19, 2 of 5 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Jones added 21, Booker 16. Q3 was theirs, 31-22, the deficit cut from 14 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 95-81 against them. Jones's -10 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/04 @ IND 108-126 — PHX notes
PHX lost 108-126. PHX shot 49% (38 of 78) to IND's 48%, 12 of 30 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to IND's 6. The glass went 36-47 against them. Durant led with 25 (9 of 14, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Booker added 20, Allen 13. Q2 was theirs, 27-26, the deficit cut from 1 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 100-81 against them. Durant's -22 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Embiid at 31 and Maxey at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Oubre Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without O'Neale (2 straight), Nurkić (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the line, where Philadelphia takes 29 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21 and the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to Phoenix's 33. Call it Philadelphia 113, Phoenix 109, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/07 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 109, shooting 41 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 21 and Mar. Williams at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (18 straight), Mann (19 straight), Jeffries (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without O'Neale (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 16 times a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Charlotte 110, Phoenix 108, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/09 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without O'Neale (4 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Hunter at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Johnson (2 straight), Nance Jr. (5 straight), Wallace (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 113 a night to Atlanta's 123. Call it Phoenix 117, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/11 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without O'Neale (5 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without George (3 straight), Collins (3 straight), Clarkson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-7 a night and Phoenix minus-6 and the defense, Utah allowing 106 a night to Phoenix's 114. Call it Phoenix 113, Utah 112, Utah keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DL D. Lee
GA G. Allen
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
MM M. Morris
MP M. Plumlee
RD R. Dunn
INDAN A. Nembhard
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
JW J. Walker
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
PS P. Siakam
TB T. Bryant
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
PHX/IND the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Tyrese Haliburton scores 27 to help Pacers reach .500 with a 126-108 victory over the Suns
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Tyrese Haliburton scored 27 points and Myles Turner added 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks, leading the Indiana Pacers past the Phoenix Suns 126-108 on Saturday.
Haliburton also had eight assists and, for the second straight game, did not commit a turnover. Indiana has won three of its last four to even its overall record at 18-18. The Pacers also swept the two-game season series from Phoenix.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Devin Booker had 20 points in the same venue he scored an arena-record 62 in his last trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in January 2024. Booker also had nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Pacers swung the game by breaking a 56-all halftime tie with the first five points of the second half and used a pivotal 40-point third quarter — their third-best quarter all season — to seize control. Indiana never trailed in the second half.
Takeaways Suns: Phoenix continues to create consternation over what's wrong. Booker, Durant and Bradley Beal were supposed to form the nucleus of a title contender. Instead, they've lost seven of eight and 10 of 13, forcing coach Mike Budenholzer to continue waiting for career win No. 500.
Pacers: Indiana has finally started playing the way it envisioned over these past 11 games. Haliburton is in sync, the defense has improved and the Pacers have won eight times during that span to reach .500.
Key moment Indiana capped its big third quarter with a late 12-5 run that extended an eight-point lead to 96-82. Phoenix played catch-up the rest of the game.
Key stats Indiana had 35 assists on 46 baskets and only six turnovers while outrebounding the Suns 47-37.
Up next Phoenix makes the second stop on a three-game trip Monday at Philadelphia, while the Pacers travel to Brooklyn on Monday.