Game Thread -- Hawks @ Pacers: Nate's Revenge

[Jamaaliver]

Indiana faces Atlanta, looks to end home losing streak



After falling to the Kings on Wednesday night, the Pacers (30-35) will look to bounce back on Thursday when they host the Atlanta Hawks (37-30) on the second night of a back-to-back.

Indiana has now dropped four of its last five following a 104-93 loss to the Kings. While the defense surrendered 154 points in Monday's loss in Washington, it was the offense that faltered against Sacramento. The Pacers had a season-high 22 turnovers, which the Kings converted into 25 points.

[T]he Hawks are currently in position to avoid the Play-In, sitting in fifth in the East. Former Pacers coach Nate McMillan has guided a tremendous turnaround in Atlanta, taking over as interim head coach after the Hawks fired Lloyd Pierce on March 1. Atlanta is 23-10 since McMillan assumed head coach responsibilities.

McMillan has gotten the most out of the Hawks' young core, a group that is led by point guard Trae Young and big man Clint Capela. Young averages a team-high 25.5 points per game and ranks second in the NBA in assists (9.4 per contest). Capela is averaging 15.3 points on 59.7 percent shooting while leading the league in rebounding (14.4) and ranking fourth in blocked shots (2.1).

Noteworthy

• After the two teams split a pair of games in Atlanta, the winner of Thursday's contest will secure the regular season series.
• The Pacers have won six straight home games against the Hawks, who have not won at Bankers Life Fieldhouse since Nov of 2016.
• Hawks forward Solomon Hill was the Pacers' first-round pick in 2013 and spent his first three NBA seasons in Indiana.

NBA.com

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[jayu70]

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[shakes0]

We absolutely need this one. With Washington being as hot as they are our last week of the season schedule no longer looks as easy as it did a month ago. Get this one tonight and with games still to come vs ORL and HOU and we look like a lock for a top 5 seed.

Win this game and then get some popcorn and settle in to the couch Friday night for Knicks vs Phoenix. Sunday make no plans for early in the afternoon as we have BOS vs MIA followed by NYK vs LAC.

Win tonight and I expect us to be in 4th place by MOnday.

[ducler]

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[DirtybirdGA]

Atlanta is in a trap game, you'd think they were mentally sharp, but down 10 to Indianapolis,

[Galloisdaman]

Getting close!

[jayu70]

Very Disappointing Loss.

[shakes0]

Pathetic

[D21]

Which is sad is that the two times they came back (from -14 to -6 and once again to -1 if I'm not wrong), it was by just playing better defense AND playing in rhythm on offense, and once at -1 (and even a bit before as they could take the lead sooner), they took some 3pts shots out of rhythm, maybe just because they hit some ones before like it would continue to work. If they had not take these ones, or play near the rim, they would have won this game.

And for once, the opponents were the ones with more players out (Brogdon, Warren, Turner and Lamb) while ATL only has Hunter has major contributor out, plus Reddish but he had not the same impact on ATL than these four guys on IND.

[Galloisdaman]

Gallo missed some shots late. I will take the loss for this one. Sorry

[shakes0]

Gallo missed some shots late. I will take the loss for this one. Sorry

Trae started the game with some bad turnovers and then missed a couple big 3's late. I'll share the loss with you.

[Galloisdaman]

Gallo missed some shots late. I will take the loss for this one. Sorry

Trae started the game with some bad turnovers and then missed a couple big 3's late. I'll share the loss with you.

Trae still had a very solid night. Can't complain about his production last night.