Forward Danny Granger may be playing on a team with a losing record, but that shouldn't stop him playing in his first All-Star Game. The Pacers new $60-million player increased his odds to making his first All-Star appearance when he capped off a 37-point performance by making a three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Phoenix on Wednesday.
"If Danny Granger isn't an All-Star, then I don't know what an All-Star looks like," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said afterwards. Granger, who became the face of the franchise when Jermaine O'Neal was traded to Toronto in the summer, has scored at least 35 points in three straight games and is averaging 25.8 points a game this season. Granger will likely have to be voted by coaches around the league because he's so far behind in the fan voting. Cleveland's Mike Brown, Dallas' Rick Carlisle, Boston's Doc Rivers, Denver's George Karl are just a few of the coaches who have said Granger should be an All-Star this season.
PACERS 113, SUNS 110: Forward Danny Granger made a three-pointer as time expired to help the Pacers end a seven-game losing streak to the Suns. The Pacers had to hold the Suns off after Phoenix came from 15 points down in the first half and 16 points down in the second half. Granger, the Pacers' leading scorer, had a game-high 37 points on 13-of-27 shooting. Mike Dunleavy scored 14 points in 21 minutes off the bench in his season debut.
