Suns 113 - 111 Pacers
Final
  for this game

Suns try to get on track at Indiana

Mar 23, 2012 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Suns crept back into the Western Conference playoff race with an impressive 11-3 stretch but have since taken a hit with back-to-back losses in the Sunshine State to Miami and Orlando.

Things don't figure to get any easier on Friday when the Suns resume a tough four-game road swing against another East contender, Indiana.

Jared Dudley scored 17 points and Robin Lopez added 14 for the Suns in a 103-93 setback in the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, and Phoenix is now 2 1/2 games behind Houston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

"We have to complete plays. We still have got to be able to execute and we have got to be able to jump up and make shots. We didn't do that tonight," Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said.

Phoenix, which is 8-14 on the road, will finish its trek in Cleveland on Sunday.

The Pacers, meanwhile, have bounced back from a home-and-home sweep at the hands of red-hot New York with two consecutive wins, the latest of which came in Washington, an 85-83 triumph over the Wizards on Thursday.

Roy Hibbert had 19 points and nine rebounds and Paul George hit the go-ahead three down the stretch as the Indiana edged Washington.

John Wall had one final chance to tie the contest, but was unable to get his floater off -- which went in -- before the final buzzer.

Danny Granger added 16 points, while David West and George netted 13 points apiece for the Pacers, who overcame a 22-point second-quarter deficit and put an end to their four-game road losing streak.

"Some nights it's certain people, some nights it's others," said Hibbert. "That's what's so good about our team."

Indiana, which was outrebounded 24-14 in the opening half, held a 26-11 advantage on the glass in the second half.

The Pacers, who are currently fifth in the East, have lost three straight and 10 of 12 to the Suns.






Related News