5 takeaways from Suns' win over Pacers for sixth straight victory

The Suns won their sixth straight game Saturday night, 113-103, over the Pacers as they swept the home-away series within a two-week span.

Phoenix won at Indiana, 112-94, Jan. 14.

This time, Mikal Bridges led the Suns to victory with 23 points to tie a season-high.

Bismack Biyombo went for a season-high 21 points to tie a career-high and added 13 rebounds and five assists while Chris Paul posted a double-double, too, of 18 points and 16 assists as he made his first seven shots from the field before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at Footprint Center.

The Suns (36-9) prevailed over Indiana (17-30) after coming off a five-game road trip that began Jan. 10 and ended Thursday with a comeback win versus Dallas.

That's the good news.

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The bad news is Cameron Payne left the game in the second quarter with a right wrist injury while Jae Crowder immediately went to the locker room after injuring his left wrist after hitting the floor following a contested transition layup.

Neither returned to the game as Suns coach Monty Williams said they'll find out more after further testing before facing Utah (30-16) on Monday at Footprint Center.

The Suns are already without Deandre Ayton, who missed a third straight game with a right ankle sprain suffered in a road triumph over Detroit.

The Suns starting big could potentially be back later this week.

Here are five takeaways from Saturday's win as the Suns had their eighth consecutive home sellout.

1. Biyombo continues to impress.

Correction.

He was even more impressive Saturday night.

With JaVale McGee battling foul trouble, Biyombo was a force on both ends as he grabbed six offensive rebounds, shot 9-of-12 from the field and blocked two shots in 29 minutes.

This was his first big game at home with his new team.

This was also a continuation of how he's been playing when given major minutes.

Ayton will return. McGee is still solid as he finished with a double-double as well with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Probably had the moment of the night with three consecutive offensive rebounds on one possession.

It would've been four in a row had he not been fouled after the third straight board.

Crowd went crazy, but again, Suns coach Monty Williams has got a decision to make when Ayton returns.

2. Payne and Crowder going down hurt in multiple ways.

Chris Paul's reaction to Crowder leaving the game was one of obvious frustration.

Mikal Bridges admitted his mood dipped when seeing his two injured teammates after the game in the locker room.

Emotions aside, Crowder and Payne are key cogs to this Suns machine that's rolling right now.

Crowder is a streak shooter, but he takes and makes big shots, defends, makes winning plays and is a leader.

Payne is a change-of-pace guard who has been playing some of his best basketball with the Suns recently.

Those two were missed Saturday night.

The Suns have won with multiple guys out and with the way this season is going between the injuries and COVID-19, will likely have to continue to do that.

3. The Pacers were down by as many as 22 points in the second half, but cut the lead to six with 3:59 remaining.

Yes, the Suns lacked ball movement they turned the ball over seven times in the second half.

They scored just 19 points in the fourth, hitting only 2-of-9 from 3.

Yes, Indiana switched up defenses that factored in those shooting numbers.

And yes, Booker couldn't make a shot outside of the paint it looked like.

However, two key guys were out and Ayton was already sidelined, but yes, the Pacers were even more shorthanded.

Check the list: Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles), Caris LeVert (calf) and Domantas Sabonis (ankle) Myles Turner (foot) and T.J. McConnell (health and safety protocols) as well as former Suns forward T.J. Warren (navicular fracture), who hasn't played all season.

So the game shouldn't have come down the final minutes.

4. Keeping with this thread, Paul played 41 minutes.

Part of that was Payne missing the entire second half with the wrist injury.

So Williams talked about playing Elfrid Payton more if Payne can't go Monday versus the Jazz. He also mentioned using Landry Shamet and Booker at the one.

If Williams does that, Booker is playing more than the 39 he logged Saturday night, but Booker is 25 years old.

Paul is 36.

He's looking ageless right now, but Paul is coming off playing 37 minutes Thursday.

That's why closing out games when having a team down 22 early in the fourth is so important. If the Suns do that, Paul doesn't have to play nearly much Saturday night.

Keep any eye on Paul's minutes moving forward, especially if Payne is out an extended period of time.

As for Crowder, Williams can start Cam Johnson and have Jalen Smith play the backup four. That's an easier fix as Johnson and Smith played well when Crowder was in health and safety protocols.

5. Booker just had one of those nights.

Went 5-of-23 from the field for 11 points, going 0-for-6 from 3.

Even missed a windmill dunk at the end of the game that will certainly end up on Shaqtin' A Fool.

After the week he had, Booker was due a low scoring output.

Check his previous four games:

• 35 points at Indiana

• 30 points at Detroit

• 48 points (season-high) at San Antonio

• 28 points at Dallas.

Booker didn't really have his legs against the Mavs, but still had enough to go for 28.

Not the case Saturday night, but Bridges picked up the slack with one of his better offensive efforts after struggling to make shots himself on the road trip.

• 12 points (5-of-12 FGs) at Toronto.

• 4 points (1-of-6 FGs) at Indiana.

• 10 points (4-of-10 FGs) at Detroit

• 7 points (2-of-6 FGs) at San Antonio.

• 12 points (5-of-11 FGs) at Dallas.

Bridges went 10-of-15 from the field Saturday, hitting 2-of-4 from 3.

Home sweet home.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 takeaways from Suns' win over Pacers for sixth straight victory