The Pacers got blown out by the Jazz. The team's spirit, once unshakable, is showing cracks. But as they say, the night is darkest just before dawn. Let's just hope the sun that rises is metaphorical and not the home team in Phoenix.

If there's a picture that describes the season (other than an injury report the length of a Dostoyevsky novel) it would be the one below. Simply put, the Pacers cannot put the ball in the hoop.

The good news is that our struggles are clearly in outlier territory – as is our 8-win pace for the season. Things will get better, perhaps even soon. As T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard find their sea legs, the offense should return to a level that resembles professional basketball.

Having said that – and please forgive this pun – the Suns are HOT. They are 6-1 over the past two weeks, ranking in the top-10 in points-per-possession on both sides of the ball. After unloading Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, they have found a chemistry that makes up for the loss in "talent." All the more impressive, they are doing it without a true point guard.

Keep an eye out for Grayson Allen, who has been on a tear to start the season. He's scoring the ball effectively and leads the league in three pointers made.

Injuries

It would feel strange if there wasn't a new name on the list every week.

For the Suns, Jalen Green and Mark Williams are out.

How to Watch

Tipoff is at 9:00 PM ET.

TV: FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan

See ya in the comments!

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