Phoenix @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 14, 2018 ) Indiana 120, Phoenix 97

The Indiana Pacers salvaged a winning five-game road trip by pulling out one of their more impressive performances in a 94-86 win at San Antonio on Sunday. The Pacers will try to bring that same effort when they return home to host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

"It was big for this young team to come into San Antonio, where they've only lost two games," Indiana head coach Nate McMillan told reporters. "This has always been a tough place to play and to end the road trip when you're a little fatigued, a little tired, the challenge was mentally give yourself a chance. Giving that effort, staying connected, playing together, and they did." The Spurs had won 14 straight at home before running into the Pacers, who recorded 14 steals and forced 20 turnovers in a strong defensive effort. The Suns, who rank last in the NBA in average points allowed (112.1) aren't very familiar with strong defensive efforts and allowed at least 100 points in 11 straight games after falling 109-105 at Milwaukee on Monday. Phoenix allowed the Bucks to shoot 53.5 percent from the floor while falling to 1-2 on the four-game trip.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), FS Indiana

ABOUT THE SUNS (17-30): Phoenix is not the best matchup for a team like the Pacers that can force turnovers and can directly point to turnovers as a reason for the setback in Milwaukee. The Suns, who average 15.2 turnovers, gave the ball away 22 times against the Bucks, leading to 26 points. "They just get their hands on a lot of balls," reserve shooting guard Troy Daniels told the Arizona Republic after Monday's setback. "Sometimes we're lackadaisical with the pass or we don't cut to get open. Part of it is being young. We have to learn how to get open."

ABOUT THE PACERS (25-22): Indiana is holding opponents to an average of 96.3 points over its last nine games, with Sunday marking the second time in that stretch that they held an opponent under 90. "This is one of our better defensive games as a collective group," point guard Darren Collison told reporters. "It just seemed like everybody was connected. We were helping one another, if that person got beat off the dribble, we stepped and helped them, we were scrambling all over the place." That nine-game stretch coincides with the return of Victor Oladipo, who grabbed three steals on Sunday and is averaging 2.4 over the last nine contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Suns SG Devin Booker went 2-of-14 from the floor on Monday, marking a season low in made field goals.

2. Pacers C Myles Turner (elbow) sat out the entire road trip and remains week-to-week.

3. Indiana placed seven scorers in double figures while breezing to a 120-97 win at Phoenix on Jan. 14.

PREDICTION: Pacers 113, Suns 96