The Indiana Pacers overcame an exceptional performance by Devin Booker to secure a thrilling 133-131 victory against the Phoenix Suns during Friday’s NBA action.
Despite Booker’s 62-point game, the Pacers, led by Obi Toppin, mounted a 17-point comeback, with Toppin’s crucial putback in the final seconds sealing the win.
Toppin, who finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, played a pivotal role in neutralizing Booker, especially in the fourth quarter, by doubling up on defense. This strategy proved effective, limiting the Suns to just 17 points in the last quarter, starkly contrasting their earlier 40-point streaks.
“Great player,” Toppin said. “But that fourth quarter, we decided to hit and send another defender to get the ball out of his hands and just scramble out of that. They didn’t like it at all. I think it was their worst quarter.”
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Booker’s performance was historic, setting a personal and Phoenix record with 29 points in the first quarter alone. Despite his efforts, including a last-second attempt to win the game, the Suns’ seven-game winning streak ended.
This season has seen multiple players scoring over 60 points in losses, a rarity since the 1977-78 season. Booker joins Karl-Anthony Towns and others in this unusual statistic.
The Suns’ defensive weaknesses were evident, a concern echoed by Booker. Nevertheless, they continued their streak of 40-point games, with Kevin Durant contributing 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
“Those are the shots I’ve been taking all season,” Booker said. “We’ve got some things to figure out, especially on the defensive end.”
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The win marked a significant achievement for the Pacers, especially given the absence of All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. Pascal Siakam’s 31 points were instrumental in their back-to-back victories over Philadelphia and Phoenix.
The Pacers demonstrated remarkable tenacity, erasing a 54-37 deficit to close the gap by halftime, and then steadily reducing the Suns’ lead in the second half. Andrew Nembhard, with 22 points and six assists, was key in tying the game before Toppin’s game-winning shot.
“We needed points, so our objective was just to get involved, crash the boards,” Toppin said. “I saw Bennedict (Mathurin) try to finish over someone, and then Pascal was right in front of me, so I just grabbed the ball and put it in.”
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The game was not without its physical challenges. Suns guard Bradley Beal suffered a nose injury but returned to the game in the fourth quarter. The Pacers and Suns are now preparing for their next games against the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic, respectively.
