Just a little over a year ago the Pacers made one of the best trades in the history of the franchise. They traded cash considerations to the Phoenix Suns for TJ Warren and got draft picks in return as well. It’s not common that you can get a guy that averages 18 points a game for cash considerations. Fast forward to yesterday. TJ Warren played the best 3-game stretch of his career, including a 53-point game, and now he faces his former team to prove to them those games weren’t a fluke.
The Pacers struggled early. Warren and the rest of the team seemed to be forcing things rather than letting the game come to them. The Pacers had flourished in the past 3 games because of their excellent ball movement. At the beginning of this one it was a lot more one-on-one. Despite being down as many as 15, the Pacers were able to cut the deficit down to 4 heading into the halftime break.
The star player for the Suns, Devin Booker, got into foul trouble early in the 2nd half and it seemed like it was time for the Pacers to make their run. They did just that. After not having a lead since early in the 1st quarter the Pacers fought their way back and took a 3-point lead with only a few minutes left in the 3rd, but after that the wheels fell off.
The Suns went on a 21-0 run to end the 3rd quarter and start of the 4th. The Pacers benched was without Doug McDermott and he was clearly missed. They were unable to find offense and the missed shots began to pile up. When the starters we reinserted to the game the Pacers made one last run and had the Suns’ lead down to 6 at one point. The Suns countered by putting their starters back in and the Pacers could no longer keep up. Indiana loses it’s first game in the bubble 99-114. TJ Warren didn’t quite have the game he was hoping for but did finish with a double-double, 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Pacers take on the best team in the West, the Lakers, on Saturday.