Gerald Green shines as the Phoenix Suns rout the Indiana Pacers

Jan 23, 2014, 6:18 AM | Updated: 4:00 pm

When Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee were traded to the Phoenix Suns last offseason, they seemed like throw-ins to help offset the Indiana Pacers’ acquisition of Luis Scola from the Suns for a first-round pick.

But that certainly didn’t appear to be the case Wednesday, as Phoenix routed Indiana 124-100 at U.S. Airways Center behind a monster game from Green and bounce-back outing from Plumlee.

Green scored a team-high 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range and a coast-to-coast highlight dunk. Green also grabbed six rebounds and dished two assists.

But, the veteran said he had no extra motivation facing his former squad.

“This is my seventh team in all of my career, I’ve been down this road before,” he said. “I didn’t change anything up. I stayed doing the same stuff; just kept my mind focused on what I needed to do as far as being solid, being efficient.

“Tonight was a good win for us — that’s a great ball club that we just played.”

Plumlee scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds — an area he’d been struggling in of late.

And Scola, whom the Suns parted with in the deal, scored 5 points and pulled down 5 rebounds.

Phoenix scored 62 first-half points, the most that the Pacers — the NBA’s best defensive team — have allowed in a half this season.

 Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic (1), of Slovenia, scores over Indiana Pacers' Roy Hibbert during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Indiana Pacers' George Hill (3) scores as Phoenix Suns' Goran Dragic (1), of Slovenia, and Miles Plumlee (22) and Pacers' Roy Hibbert, left, all look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Phoenix Suns shooting guard Goran Dragic (1) collides with Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill (3) during the first half of their NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)  Phoenix Suns shooting guard Goran Dragic (1) tries to pass around Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) during the first half of their NBA game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, David Kadlubowski)  Phoenix Suns' Miles Plumlee, right, dunks as Indiana Pacers' Paul George (24) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Phoenix Suns' Gerald Green shouts in celebration after scoring against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Indiana Pacers' Roy Hibbert looks confused after being called for a technical foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Indiana Pacers' Frank Vogel, left, argues with referee Joe Crawford after a technical foul was called against Pacers' Roy Hibbert during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Indiana Pacers' Lance Stephenson (1) goes up for a shot against Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Phoenix Suns' P.J. Tucker, right, and Dionte Christmas cheers on their team from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)  Indiana Pacers' Lance Stephenson, right, tries to get off a shot against Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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