PHOENIX — Kevin Durant scored 40 points, Devin Booker had 26 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Indiana Pacers 117-110 on Sunday night for their fifth straight victory.
Bradley Beal added 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting for Phoenix, which led for most of the night and took a 91-83 advantage into the fourth quarter.
The Pacers made a few runs early in the final period, but Durant seemed to thwart every rally with another mid-range basket. The 35-year-old star made his first five shots of the fourth quarter.
Indiana has lost four of five. Buddy Hield led the Pacers with 18 points, and Pascal Siakam — acquired this week from Toronto — had 15 points and seven assists. All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton sat out for the sixth time in seven games because of a left hamstring strain.
Indiana used a 11-0 run to take a 105-103 lead on Hield's 3-pointer with 3:20 left, but Durant responded again, this time with a 3-pointer, and the Suns wouldn't trail again. Durant made 18 of 25 shots, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, putting together a big scoring night without taking a free throw.
Beal hit three baskets in the final 2:11 that were crucial in helping Phoenix keep the lead. Booker shot just 9 of 24 from the field, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range, but had a crucial steal with about 25 seconds remaining to seal it.
The Suns jumped out to a 33-25 lead after one quarter, shooting 62% from the field, and held a 65-61 advantage at halftime. Durant had 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting.
Indiana's Jalen Smith — who was drafted by the Suns in 2021 and part of the roster that made it to the NBA Finals — had 15 points and four rebounds against his former team.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Denver on Tuesday night.
Suns: Host Chicago on Monday night.
Phoenix 114, Indiana 110
INDIANA (110) — Nesmith 2-7 1-3 6, Siakam 6-14 2-2 15, Turner 5-11 1-2 12, Hield 6-10 1-2 18, McConnell 2-8 0-0 4, Sheppard 1-4 2-2 4, Toppin 6-12 1-2 13, Walker 4-6 0-0 10, Smith 5-5 2-4 15, Mathurin 1-8 1-2 4, Nembhard 3-9 3-4 9. Totals: 41-94 14-23 110.
PHOENIX (117) — Allen 5-7 0-0 13, Durant 18-25 0-0 40, Nurkic 2-2 0-0 4, Beal 11-16 3-3 25, Booker 8-23 7-9 23, Bates-Diop 0-0 0-0 0, Eubanks 1-1 1-2 3, Metu 0-0 2-2 2, Gordon 1-6 2-2 4, Okogie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 46-81 15-18 114.
Indiana 25 36 22 27 — 110
Phoenix 33 32 26 26 — 114
3-Point Goals—Indiana 14-31 (Hield 5-8, Smith 3-3, Walker 2-3, Turner 1-2, Siakam 1-3, Mathurin 1-4, Nesmith 1-5, Sheppard 0-1, Toppin 0-2), Phoenix 7-24 (Durant 4-7, Allen 3-4, Beal 0-1, Okogie 0-1, Gordon 0-5, Booker 0-6). Fouled Out—Indiana 1 (Siakam), Phoenix 1 (Nurkic). Rebounds—Indiana 40 (Walker 9), Phoenix 44 (Nurkic 13). Assists—Indiana 28 (Siakam 7), Phoenix 25 (Booker 8). Total Fouls—Indiana 20, Phoenix 24. A—17,071 (18,422)
