PHOENIX (AP) – Malcolm Brogden scored 25 points and Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to take the lead Indiana Pacers above that Phoenix Suns 122-111 on Saturday evening.
Doug McDermott added 22 points for the Pacers who improved to 17-20.
Caris LeVert made his much-anticipated Indiana debut following surgery to remove a mass on his kidney. He was on the starting grid and played well, scoring 13 points in 27 minutes.
Devin Booker had 20 points and Dario Saric came off the bench, scoring 17 points for the Suns, who captured their winning streak in five games, falling to 25-12.
The Suns led 33:29 after the first quarter, but the Pacers opened the second with a 12-0 run, hitting five of their first six shots to create a 41:33 lead in the first three minutes. The Pacers had a 62:57 lead at halftime.
Phoenix went cold in the third quarter, landing just seven shots in 22 attempts. The Pacers capitalized and took the lead 97-77.
In the final phase, the suns reached nine points the closest.
Indiana acquired LeVert on Jan. 16 as part of a four-team deal that sent James Harden to Brooklyn and Victor Oladipo to Houston. During physical trading after trading, a mass was discovered on LeVert’s left kidney. Tests showed it was renal cell carcinoma and LeVert had surgery on Jan 26 to remove the mass.
Before trading, the 6-foot-6 LeVert averaged 18.5 points and six assists in 12 games with the Nets this season.
TIP-INS
Pacemaker: Upgraded to 10-9 on the road. … Indiana is 5-3 when it plays back-to-back on the second night. The last time Indiana lost in Phoenix was January 2014. The Pacers have won five straight wins in Arizona. … Former Suns player TJ Warren sat again with a left foot stress fracture. … Jeremy Lamb also missed the game with a sore left knee.
Suns: The game was originally scheduled for January 16, but was one of three Suns games postponed due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols. … Cam Johnson was down on health and safety protocols. … The suns are 12-7 at home and 13-5 on the way.
NEXT
Pacers: Finish your road trip with three games in Denver on Monday.
Suns: hosts the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
