Pacers Pull Away In Fourth Quarter, Beat Suns

By ESPN

Paul George had some big numbers -- and shut down high-scoring Devin Booker.

George had 25 points and 13 rebounds and the Indiana Pacers pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the struggling Phoenix Suns 109-94 on Wednesday night.

George defended Booker and helped hold the second-year guard to 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Booker also committed four turnovers.

"He's young and really good and has got a lot to learn playing with the physicality," George said about Booker. "Tried to get him out of his spots, tried to get him uncomfortable. That's what you have to do with guys that are so good with getting into a rhythm."

Myles Turner added 20 points, and Jeff Teague had 19 points and a season-high 11 assists.

Indiana had a 9-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to open a 97-87 lead.

"We were able to get stops. We were able to get out in transition," George said. "We did a great job of just getting good looks. Not any shot we took was bad, I thought."

Eric Bledsoe led Phoenix with 15 points, and Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Suns shot 40 percent from the field and made only 9 of 33 3-pointers. They have lost five of six.

Indiana has won four of six. The Pacers haven't won or lost more than two games in a row this season.

"We have a young group," Suns coach Earl Watson said. "We have to set the tone and identity on how we want to play. From now on, moving forward, defensively aggressive is how we have to play."

Rodney Stuckey's 12-foot turnaround with 17 seconds left in the third quarter gave Indiana its largest lead of the game to that point, five, at 82-77. But Jared Dudley hit a 3 at the quarter buzzer on the next possession to make at 82-80 to start the fourth.

Wednesday, December 7 Scoreboard

Charlotte 87, Detroit 77

Boston 117, Orlando 87

Brooklyn 116, Denver 111

Atlanta 103, Miami 95

Milwaukee 115, Portland 107

Houston 134, Los Angeles Lakers 95

Cleveland 126, New York 94

Sacramento 120,  Dallas 89

Indiana 109, Phoenix 94

Golden State 115, Los Angeles Clippers 98

Thursday, December 8 Schedule (All Times Central)

Minnesota at Toronto, 6 p.m.

Denver at Washington, 6 p.m.

Portland at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Golden State at Utah, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, December 9 Schedule (All Times Central)

Orlando at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Miami at Cleveland, 6:30 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Atlanta at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Houston at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Detroit at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Dallas, 7:309 p.m.

Phoenix at Los Angeles Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

New York at Sacramento, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 10 Schedule (All Times Central)

Milwaukee at Washington, 6 p.m.

Denver at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Portland at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Cleveland, 6:30 p.m.

Miami at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Golden State at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Houston, 7 p.m.

Brooklyn at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Utah, 8 p.m.

New Orleans at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

Philadelphia at Detroit, 5 p.m.

Boston at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.

Golden State at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

New Orleans at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.

New York at Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 p.m.