In what was easily the NBA game of the year between the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, the Pacers outlasted Atlanta on the road with a thrilling 157-152 victory. This game had everything you could ask for: unbelievable shot-making, elite passing, multiple comeback’s, a plethora of three-point bomb’s, a bit of controversy, and an anticlimactic finish, if you are a Hawks’ fan.
Atlanta scored a franchise record 86 points in the first-half, taking an 86-73 lead into halftime. The Hawks led by as many as 20 points in the first-half. The third quarter is when the action ramped up to another level, almost video game-like.
Indiana’s, Tyrese Halliburton, hit seven three’s in this frame alone. The All-Star guard was absolutely unconsciousness, as he hit one shot after another, even dancing and celebrating after each make. Atlanta’s 13-point lead quickly evaporated as they lost the battle in a lopsided third quarter, 46-28.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks were down by five, but the Pacers jumped all over the Hawks with a 9-0 run out the gate. The way Indiana was shooting, almost seemed that they were going to end up blowing out the Hawks, but credit to Atlanta, as they hung in there and both teams exchanged buckets the entire 12 minutes.
Fast forward to a 1:32 remaining, Trae Young hit a clutch 22-foot step back to give a 150-149 lead. On the next possession for Indy, Buddy Hield, nailed a three-pointer to give the Pacers a two-point lead. Following a Saddiq Bey lay-up to tie the game, Hield hit another three to put the Pacers back up by three.
Dejounte Murray shot a game-tying three with 34.1 seconds remaining, but the shot missed and an offensive foul was called on Murray, for sticking his leg out to draw contact. Coach Quin Snyder challenged the ruling only to be unsuccessful. Still, Atlanta had a chance to get a stop without fouling, and get the ball back.
Indiana held the ball to the waning seconds of the shot-clock and got the ball to Halliburton, who turned the ball over with 12.2 seconds remaining, off a Trae Young-steal. Murray ended up with the loose ball and pushed the floor, with one timeout remaining. but missed a lay-up, thus ending Atlanta’s night with a loss.
The offense was flowing for both team’s, and it was no exaggeration to compare this to a video game. Haliburton finished with 37 points, 16 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, and hit a season-high nine three-pointer’s. Hield chipped in 24 points, with 13 in the fourth quarter alone, and went a perfect 6-6 from beyond the arc. Obi Toppin had a big game as well, ending with 21 points and 6 assists. Aaron Nesmith and Bennedict Mathurin, off the bench, finished with 17 & 19 points, respectively.
For the Hawks, they were led by their star player, Young, who possibly had his best offensive performance this season, albeit in a loss. Young finished with 38 points, going 13-17 overall, with 8 assists, 3 steals, and an efficient, 5-8 from three. Murray finished with 28 on the night and Bogdan Bogdanovic kept up his hot-streak with 26 points on 10-15 shooting. Jalen Johnson stuffed the stat-sheet once again with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a block.
From a team perspective, both unit’s were absolutely unbelievable tonight shooting the ball. Most of their stats mirrored each other.
Overall Field Goal %: IND/60.6% ATL/60.0%
Three-Point %: IND/48.9% (22-45) ATL/48.4% (15-31)
Free Throw’s: IND/21-28 ATL/23-28
The Hawks have now dropped the last 5 out of 7, and their third straight loss at home. They fall to 6-7 but will have a quick chance to redeem themselves with the Brooklyn Nets coming into town tomorrow evening. Tip-off for tomorrow’s game will be at 7:30 p.m. from State Farm Arena.
