The Phoenix Suns defeated the Indiana Pacers, 114-99, in an NBA seeding game in Orlando on Thursday afternoon.

The Suns (30-39) had been one of the biggest surprises of the bubble in their first three games, but Thursday, they faced a Pacers (42-27) squad that had been just as successful in the restart to the season. Phoenix proved it was up to the task in their ongoing chase for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, jumping out to a four-point halftime lead and then extending it to 11 during a critical third quarter. The Suns didn't rest on their laurels in the final period, either, putting another four points of distance between them and Indiana for the final margin of victory. Balance was the key for coach Monty Williams' squad, with all five starters, along with two second-unit players, scoring in double digits.

Malcolm Brogdon overcame a questionable designation due to a neck injury to lead the Pacers with 25 points, a total he supplemented with six rebounds, six assists and one block. Myles Turner followed with 17 points, eight boards, two assists, three blocks and one steal. T.J. Warren and Victor Oladipo finished with matching 16-point tallies, with Warren also pulling down 11 rebounds. T.J. McConnell led the bench with eight points.

Deandre Ayton paced the Suns with a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included one assist, four blocks and two steals. Devin Booker supplied 20 points, 10 assists and three rebounds. Dario Saric managed 16 points, eight rebounds and one assist off the bench. Cameron Payne registered 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Cameron Johnson contributed a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included three assists and one steal. Ricky Rubio and Mikal Bridges posted 13 and 10 points, respectively, while also totaling four rebounds apiece.

The Pacers return to the floor Saturday evening against the Lakers, while the Suns tangle with the Miami Heat on Saturday night.