The Indiana Pacers blew out the Atlanta Hawks 157-115 on Sunday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana’s offense never slowed down, as they shot 19-36 from beyond the arc and scored, at least, 32 points in every quarter. Both teams emptied their benches early in the fourth quarter to close out game 82.
The Pacers started the game on an 8-0 run before Dejounte Murray picked off a pass and got a layup on the other end. Myles Turner scored 11 of Indiana’s first 15 points as they built a 21-6 advantage. The Hawks cut into the deficit with a 7-0 run, but the Pacers immediately countered with a 6-0 stretch to keep their 15-point lead. Mouhamed Gueye received the bulk of the backup center minutes and took advantage, scoring 10 points in the opening frame. He worked well with Trae Young on the pick-and-roll, finishing at the rim off pocket passes. Both squads scored well in the quarter, but Indiana scored with reckless abandon. They took a 49-34 lead into the second frame, shooting 74% from the field and 54% from beyond the arc.
Dejounte Murray caught fire in the second quarter. He scored seven straight points, including back-to-back dunks, and led Atlanta’s 17-3 charge to tie the game at 62 points apiece. However, the Pacers answered immediately. Pascal Siakam went to work around the rim and Tunrer continued his hot shooting for a 19-4 Indiana stretch. They stretched their lead to 86-72 at halftime. Murray led Atlanta with 22 points, while Gueye scored a career-high 13 in just the first half. Turner and Siakam put up 18 and 17 points, respectively, for the Pacers. The Hawks found themselves in a 14-point hole, it got even larger in the second half.
Indiana scored seven straight points to open the third quarter to open up a 20-point lead. Murray hit a mid-range shot to stop the run, but Turner was a thorn in the Hawks’ side. He knocked down a stepback three and posterized Bruno Fernando on a rack attack. Siakam and Turer scored 18 of the first 20 Indiana points in the frame. The Pacers shot 11-13 from the field to begin the second half, and Atlanta quickly saw the game slipping away. Indiana ballooned the lead to 111-86 and held the Hawks scoreless for almost four minutes as the third frame closed.
The Pacers put the nail in the coffin when they began the final quarter on a 10-2 run, extending their lead to 135-97. However, before the game finished, Young made Hawks history. He recorded his 3867th career assist when Murray cashed in a triple off Young’s crosscourt dime. This broke Doc Rivers’ record for the most assists in franchise history.
Murray scored 32 points on an efficient 13-19 from the field, but he and Fernando (3-5 FG) were the only starters who shot at least 50% from the field. Young added 12 points and 12 assists, while Bogdan Bogdanović dropped 18 points. Gueye finished with a career-high 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. He had an impressive stretch over the last few games of the season.
Turner put a monster stat line of 31 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, and Siakam scored 28. Tyrese Haliburton totaled 12 points and 13 assists, while T.J. McConnell dropped 17 points and eight assists in 15 minutes off the bench. The Pacers’ offense never slowed down, shooting 65% from the field and 52% from deep. They had 11 players shoot at least 50% from the field.
With the regular season wrapped up, the Hawks turn their attention to a play-in matchup with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday at the United Center. If they win, they play the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat on the road to advance to the 2024 NBA playoffs.
