Suns’ Royce O’Neale hits buzzer beater, receives Sun Devil assist to end 1st half vs. Pacers

Dec 19, 2024, 8:42 PM

How about a Phoenix Suns-Arizona State football crossover at Footprint Center?

Suns wing Royce O’Neale knocked down a buzzer-beater to end the first half of Thursday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, and ASU wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was there to help him up.

Tyson sat courtside with ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt, and they were pumped after O’Neale’s buzzer-beater brought the Suns back within one point at the break, 60-59.

Royce ending the half with a BANG! 💥@PayPal | #SunsUp pic.twitter.com/rLrh8MltAp

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 20, 2024

With three seconds left after a Tyrese Haliburton triple, Suns point guard Tyus Jones pushed the ball and found O’Neale for a good look. O’Neale had time to pump fake, allowing Pascal Siakam to fly by before he let the 3-ball fly.

O’Neale hit two triples in the final 16.1 seconds of the half.

Indiana outshot Phoenix from deep in the first half 10-for-24 to 6-for-16. The Pacers also crushed the Suns in points off turnovers 18-2, but Phoenix shot the ball better from the field and won the rebounding battle.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 16 points at the break, while O’Neale scored nine off the bench.

Obi Toppin with the East Bay dunk

Indiana forward Obi Toppin led the Pacers with 13 points, and his highlight moment came in transition. Toppin is not a stranger to throwing down dunk contest-style dunks in games, and he threw down an East Bay dunk between his legs.

OBI TOPPIN BETWEEN THE LEGS SLAM!

IND-PHX | 2Q | NBA League Pass
📲 https://t.co/W86fTqlABe pic.twitter.com/7iknct4WEH

— NBA (@NBA) December 20, 2024