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Pacers, Suns square off in Phoenix

Dec 2, 2014 - 3:10 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Phoenix Suns hope to regain their winning trend when they host the Indiana Pacers Tuesday at US Airways Center.

The Suns have lost two straight and three of four games after winning four in a row, and closed out November with Sunday's 93-90 loss to the Orlando Magic.

Goran Dragic led the Suns with 22 points and Markieff Morris supplied 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the loss. The Suns turned a 16-point hole (74-58) in the fourth quarter to a one-point difference on Gerald Green's 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds to go, but Orlando held off the hosts.

Phoenix shot 40 percent for the game and struggled beyond the arc, making only 7-of-26 3-pointers.

"Orlando played hard for 48 minutes, you have to give them credit," said Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek. "

Morris is averaging 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds over the past eight games, while the consistent Dragic has posted an average of 15.4 ppg in his last 13.

Eric Bledsoe had 13 points and six assists in the recent loss for Phoenix, which is 5-4 at home

The Suns are sixth in the NBA with 104.5 ppg, but they are 25th in opponents' scoring at 103.3 points. They will try to shoot 50 percent or better versus the Pacers and have won 24 straight games when reaching that mark.

After hosting Indiana, Phoenix will open a three-game road trip against Dallas, Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers. Suns guard Isaiah Thomas (ankle) is questionable Tuesday.

Indiana has alternated wins and losses over the previous six games and opened a four-game jaunt with Saturday's 109-97 loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. James had 19 points, but Kevin Love led the way with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Kyrie Irving scored 24 points in the win.

James, Love and Irving all made nine shots for the Cavs, who finished at 52.6 percent shooting from the floor and stormed out to a 27-8 lead.

The Pacers were led by David West's 14 points. West was playing his second game after returning from injury.

Solomon Hill had 13 and Chris Copeland netted 11 for the visitors. Indiana shot 39.3 percent and managed to connect on 7-of-22 3-pointers.

"They just imposed their will on us," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. "Their starters outplayed our starters tonight."

Indiana is 26th in scoring (93.4 ppg), but still plays tough defense as evidenced by the 95.3 ppg from the opposition.

Pacers center Roy Hibbert has missed four straight games with a sprained ankle and is questionable against the Suns. Hibbert is averaging 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds.

The Pacers will also visit Portland and Sacramento on this western portion of the road swing and are 3-5 away from home.

"We've got to find a way to get some wins," Vogel said. "We've got a tough stretch of the schedule coming up that we're in the midst of, going out west right now and then some tough ones when we come back home. So we can't be pleased with our effort. We've got to get wins."

Phoenix and Indiana recently played on Nov. 22 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where the Suns recorded a 106-83 victory. Green and Thomas scored 23 and 16 points, respectively, in that one for the Suns, who have won three in a row and 15 of the past 20 meetings between the teams.

Indiana has lost 11 of the past 14 encounters in Arizona.