Phoenix has lost six of seven and is short-handed in the frontcourt missing Jusuf Nurkic and Royce O'Neale. Tyus Jones (illness) and Bradley Beal (hip) are iffy. Indiana is 7-3 in its past 10 and outscoring teams by by 4.2 points over that span. The defense has greatly improved, surrendering 113.3 points per game compared to 118.2 PPG over the team's first 25 games during a 10-15 start.

The Suns are 3-7 over their last 10 games and are 5-9 on the road this season. Things won’t get any easier for them with Jusuf Nurkic (suspension) and Royce O’Neale (ankle) out. Bradley Beal (hip) is listed as questionable, but he participated in shootaround, so he could play. The Pacers are just 9-12 on the road, but they are 8-6 at home. The Pacers also have a mostly healthy depth chart, so I like their chances of winning this game.

Hardly sure this is where the Suns begin a turnaround. Phoenix has never been completely healthy this season and now it's Bradley Beal who might miss tonight with a hip injury, but that's only part of the puzzle in the desert, where Mike Budenholzer can't seem to find the right answers for a team that's now lost six of seven. The Jimmy Butler trade rumors and related distractions have also circled around the Suns as they contemplate a Hail Mary offer that would likely have to include Beal going outbound. Stay tuned. Wins in seven of ten and very recent successes vs. the Celtics and Heat suggest Rick Carlisle has turned the Pacers in the right direction. Play Pacers

I love this spot to back Devin Booker coming off of back to back games where he was held under 20 points. As a result, we're getting a heft discount on this scoring line in what is projected to be an uptempo affair with a solid 231 point total. Bradley Beal is also questionable which would increase Booker's usage even further if he were to sit. Either way this is the type of game environment conducive to big scoring games.