Pacers comeback from 17-down to ruin Bookers perfect night

The Indiana Pacers pulled off an impressive comeback against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, coming back from 17 points down to secure a 133-131 victory. Despite Devin Booker’s 62-point performance, the Pacers managed to take control of the game in the final minutes, with Obi Toppin scoring the game-winning putback with just 3.4 seconds left on the clock.

Following Booker’s impressive 29-point first quarter, the Pacers made a key adjustment in the fourth quarter, sending another defender to disrupt his play and force the Suns to scramble. This proved to be effective, as Phoenix only managed to score 17 points in the final quarter, compared to their previous quarters of 40, 40, and 34 points.

Despite Booker’s impressive performance, which included breaking his own Phoenix record for points in a quarter, the Suns were unable to secure the win. This was partly due to Indiana’s strong second-half performance, which saw them gradually close the gap and finally take the lead in the final minutes of the game.

The Pacers’ win was all the more impressive considering they had played the night before, securing a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. Pascal Siakam was instrumental in both victories, scoring 31 points against Phoenix and 22 points against Philadelphia.

Although the Suns had won seven straight games prior to this defeat, their performance was marred by defensive issues, with Booker himself admitting they had “some things to figure out” on that front. Despite this setback, the Suns still hold an impressive record this season, with consecutive games featuring 40-point scorers and a strong overall performance.

Overall, it was a physical, frenetic, and defensively challenging game for both teams, with Toppin’s game-winning putback proving to be one of the most decisive moments in a closely contested game.