119 — 117
Atlanta seized the game between the breaks
Indiana had the cleaner offence for long stretches, but Atlanta did the sturdier work around it. The Pacers edged the first quarter 32-31 behind early scoring from Pascal Siakam, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Nembhard, then still trailed only 62-60 at halftime after Aaron Nesmith drilled a three with 1.6 seconds left in the second. What changed the game was not one hot stretch from deep. It was Atlanta’s ability to keep manufacturing points while Indiana gave away possessions and failed to create second chances.
Jalen Johnson was central to that shift. He finished with 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, and his scoring gave the Hawks shape in the second quarter when the lead was up for grabs. Johnson scored at 8:00 and 7:03, hit a three at 2:13, then added late free throws as Atlanta won the period 31-28. CJ McCollum helped from the line and with a three-point shot during that same window, while Aaron Wiggins came off the bench to score seven points in just over a minute early in the quarter, flipping a 34-33 deficit into a 38-34 Atlanta lead.
The third quarter belonged to Onyeka Okongwu. After Oubre tied the game at 62-62 with 11:30 left in the period, Okongwu put Atlanta back in control with a sharp burst: a three at 11:13, another three at 9:49, a layup at 8:47, two free throws at 8:31 and an alley-oop dunk at 7:09. That sequence turned a level score into a 78-74 Hawks advantage. Atlanta kept building from there, closing the quarter on contributions from Johnson, Kingston Flemings, Asa Newell, Corey Kispert and Luguentz Dort to carry a 96-86 lead into the fourth.
Indiana’s comeback kept finding oxygen
That should have been enough cushion, but the Pacers made sure the finish stayed uncomfortable. Jay Huff opened the fourth with a dunk and a three, and Jarace Walker followed with a three-pointer at 9:17 to slash the margin to 96-94. Atlanta responded through its younger pieces rather than with one dominant closer. RayJ Dennis scored at 8:37, Newell finished at the rim at 7:38 and again on an alley-oop at 7:00, and the Hawks nudged the lead back to seven.
Indiana still would not disappear. Jalen Slawson was the engine of the push, getting to the line, finishing inside and then burying a 28-foot three at 5:31 to bring the Pacers within 102-100. Jalen Wilson answered with a three for Atlanta, Braden Smith scored for Indiana, and Dennis restored order with a floating jumper. Wilson hit again from deep at 3:48 for 110-103, but even then the game was not secure. The Pacers had balance all night — seven players reached double figures, though none scored more than 13 — and that spread-out production kept the pressure on until the final seconds.
The last minute followed the same script. Slawson completed a three-point play at 1:40 to make it 114-111. Kobe Brown hit two free throws at 1:07 to trim it to one. Dennis calmly made both free throws at 52.0 seconds, Slawson split a pair with 41.3 left, and Zuby Ejiofor’s dunk off a Dennis assist pushed Atlanta ahead 118-114 with 27.4 seconds to go. Rienk Mast knocked down a three at 20.3 to cut it back to one, and Dennis split two more free throws at 15.2 for the final margin. No further scoring followed, leaving Atlanta to walk away with a game that never quite settled.
Our take
This was a useful reminder that the prettier shooting line does not always win the night. Indiana shot 51.3 per cent from the field, hit 15 of 34 from three and handed out 31 assists. Those are usually winning numbers. But the Pacers also turned the ball over 17 times, produced no offensive rebounds and missed eight free throws. Atlanta, by contrast, shot just 43.3 per cent overall and 28.9 per cent from deep, yet still found 119 points because it owned the possession battle: 49 rebounds to 35, 10 offensive boards to none, and 22 points off turnovers.
For the Hawks, the encouraging part is that they won without needing elite perimeter efficiency. Johnson and Okongwu were decisive, and the bench supplied timely offence all game. The warning sign is the fourth quarter, when a 10-point lead shrank to a one-possession finish and Atlanta scored only 23 points. For the Pacers, the route to a different result is easier to identify. They do not need prettier offence; they already had that. Cleaner ball security, a stronger night at the line and any kind of presence on the offensive glass would have given those shooting numbers a much better chance to matter.
Scoring moments
- 1st Quarter · 11:22
Ivica Zubac makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 11:04
Onyeka Okongwu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 11:04
Onyeka Okongwu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 10:51
Ivica Zubac makes 7-foot two point shot (Aaron Nesmith assists)
- 1st Quarter · 10:41
Jalen Johnson makes 17-foot fade away jump shot (Dyson Daniels assists)
- 1st Quarter · 10:22
Kelly Oubre Jr. makes 5-foot layup (Pascal Siakam assists)
- 1st Quarter · 10:06
Pascal Siakam makes 27-foot running pullup jump shot
- 1st Quarter · 9:56
Jalen Johnson makes 23-foot pullup jump shot
- 1st Quarter · 9:40
Aaron Nesmith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 9:40
Aaron Nesmith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 9:13
CJ McCollum makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 9:13
CJ McCollum makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 8:59
Andrew Nembhard makes 25-foot three point jumper (Aaron Nesmith assists)
- 1st Quarter · 8:38
Aaron Nesmith makes running layup (Pascal Siakam assists)
- 1st Quarter · 8:22
Jalen Johnson makes 17-foot jumper (Dyson Daniels assists)
- 1st Quarter · 7:03
Ivica Zubac makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 6:37
CJ McCollum makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 6:37
CJ McCollum makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 5:58
Dyson Daniels makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jalen Johnson assists)
- 1st Quarter · 5:35
Jarace Walker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 5:35
Jarace Walker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 5:22
Aaron Wiggins makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jalen Johnson assists)
- 1st Quarter · 4:58
Jarace Walker makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ben Sheppard assists)
- 1st Quarter · 4:48
Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4:48
Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4:06
Larry Nance Jr. makes 3-foot layup (Jarace Walker assists)
- 1st Quarter · 3:53
Jock Landale makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 3:53
Jock Landale makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 3:40
Quenton Jackson makes two point shot (Larry Nance Jr. assists)
- 1st Quarter · 3:21
Obi Toppin makes 2-foot dunk (Jarace Walker assists)
- 1st Quarter · 3:08
Kingston Flemings makes 13-foot pullup jump shot (Corey Kispert assists)
- 1st Quarter · 2:35
Larry Nance Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 2:20
Luguentz Dort makes tip in dunk
- 1st Quarter · 2:06
Aaron Wiggins makes 28-foot running pullup jump shot
- 1st Quarter · 1:39
Kingston Flemings makes 1-foot running dunk
- 1st Quarter · 1:26
Quenton Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:26
Quenton Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 1:05
Obi Toppin makes 1-foot driving dunk (Quenton Jackson assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 11:41
Pascal Siakam makes 7-foot two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 11:00
Kingston Flemings makes 9-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Quarter · 10:37
Aaron Wiggins makes running layup (Corey Kispert assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 10:03
Aaron Wiggins makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jock Landale assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 9:53
Pascal Siakam makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 9:53
Pascal Siakam makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 9:34
Kelly Oubre Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Aaron Nesmith assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 8:26
Ivica Zubac makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 8:00
Jalen Johnson makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot
- 2nd Quarter · 7:45
Andrew Nembhard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 7:45
Andrew Nembhard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 7:35
Corey Kispert makes 28-foot three point jumper (Onyeka Okongwu assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 7:19
Ivica Zubac makes 2-foot layup (Andrew Nembhard assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 7:03
Jalen Johnson makes 18-foot two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 6:46
Andrew Nembhard makes 14-foot pullup jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 6:29
Onyeka Okongwu makes 2-foot two point shot (Corey Kispert assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 4:46
CJ McCollum makes 26-foot three pointer
- 2nd Quarter · 4:26
CJ McCollum makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 4:26
CJ McCollum makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 4:26
CJ McCollum makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 3:56
Onyeka Okongwu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 3:56
Onyeka Okongwu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 3:21
Pascal Siakam makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 3:21
Pascal Siakam makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 2:55
Obi Toppin makes driving dunk
- 2nd Quarter · 2:28
Obi Toppin makes 2-foot running dunk
- 2nd Quarter · 2:13
Jalen Johnson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Onyeka Okongwu assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 2:00
Pascal Siakam makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 2:00
Pascal Siakam makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 1:21
CJ McCollum makes two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 50.4
Kelly Oubre Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Andrew Nembhard assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 2.0
Jalen Johnson makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 2.0
Jalen Johnson makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 1.6
Aaron Nesmith makes 25-foot three point jumper (Pascal Siakam assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 11:30
Kelly Oubre Jr. makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 11:13
Onyeka Okongwu makes 26-foot three point jumper (Dyson Daniels assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 10:52
Ivica Zubac makes 2-foot layup (Andrew Nembhard assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 10:39
Jalen Johnson makes 11-foot pullup jump shot (Onyeka Okongwu assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 10:24
Kelly Oubre Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ivica Zubac assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 9:49
Onyeka Okongwu makes 24-foot three point jumper (Luguentz Dort assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 9:29
Ivica Zubac makes 5-foot two point shot (Aaron Nesmith assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 8:47
Onyeka Okongwu makes running layup (Jalen Johnson assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 8:31
Onyeka Okongwu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 8:31
Onyeka Okongwu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 7:44
Andrew Nembhard makes 26-foot three point jumper (Pascal Siakam assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 7:34
Dyson Daniels makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot
- 3rd Quarter · 7:22
Pascal Siakam makes driving layup (Aaron Nesmith assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 7:09
Onyeka Okongwu makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Dyson Daniels assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 6:20
Dyson Daniels makes tip shot
- 3rd Quarter · 6:09
Ben Sheppard makes 2-foot layup (Larry Nance Jr. assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 5:37
Jalen Johnson makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 3rd Quarter · 4:58
Kingston Flemings makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 4:31
Jarace Walker makes 1-foot two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 3:54
Asa Newell makes 2-foot layup (Aaron Wiggins assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 3:35
Larry Nance Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Quenton Jackson assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 3:23
Luguentz Dort makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 3:23
Luguentz Dort makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 3:16
Quenton Jackson makes two point shot (Obi Toppin assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 2:10
Obi Toppin makes 23-foot three point jumper (Larry Nance Jr. assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 1:55
Asa Newell makes 1-foot driving dunk (Kingston Flemings assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 1:24
Corey Kispert makes driving dunk (Luguentz Dort assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 41.7
Luguentz Dort makes 26-foot three point jumper (Asa Newell assists)
- 4th Quarter · 10:52
Jay Huff makes 2-foot dunk (Jarace Walker assists)
- 4th Quarter · 10:30
Jay Huff makes 27-foot three point jumper (Braden Smith assists)
- 4th Quarter · 9:17
Jarace Walker makes 24-foot three pointer
- 4th Quarter · 8:37
RayJ Dennis makes 3-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter · 7:38
Asa Newell makes 3-foot running dunk (RayJ Dennis assists)
- 4th Quarter · 7:16
Jalen Slawson makes free throw 1 of 3
- 4th Quarter · 7:00
Asa Newell makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (RayJ Dennis assists)
- 4th Quarter · 6:17
Jalen Slawson makes 1-foot running dunk (Braden Smith assists)
- 4th Quarter · 5:31
Jalen Slawson makes 28-foot three point jumper (James Johnson assists)
- 4th Quarter · 5:16
Jalen Wilson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Asa Newell assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:59
Braden Smith makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter · 4:44
RayJ Dennis makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot
- 4th Quarter · 4:17
Kobe Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 3:48
Jalen Wilson makes 26-foot running jump shot (RayJ Dennis assists)
- 4th Quarter · 3:35
Jalen Slawson makes 1-foot layup (Jay Huff assists)
- 4th Quarter · 2:46
Zuby Ejiofor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 2:46
Zuby Ejiofor makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 2:25
Jalen Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 2:25
Jalen Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 2:13
Kobe Brown makes 23-foot three point jumper (Braden Smith assists)
- 4th Quarter · 1:40
Jalen Slawson makes driving layup (Braden Smith assists)
- 4th Quarter · 1:40
Jalen Slawson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter · 1:07
Kobe Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 1:07
Kobe Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 52.0
RayJ Dennis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 52.0
RayJ Dennis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 41.3
Jalen Slawson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 27.4
Zuby Ejiofor makes 1-foot running dunk (RayJ Dennis assists)
- 4th Quarter · 20.3
Rienk Mast makes 26-foot three point jumper (Braden Smith assists)
- 4th Quarter · 15.2
RayJ Dennis makes free throw 1 of 2
Atlanta Hawks — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onyeka Okongwu | 23 | 18 | 5-10 | 2-7 | 6-6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +6 |
| Jalen Johnson | 25 | 20 | 8-12 | 2-2 | 2-3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +8 |
| CJ McCollum | 19 | 12 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 7-7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +2 |
| Luguentz Dort | 24 | 7 | 2-7 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | -3 |
| Dyson Daniels | 24 | 7 | 3-8 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | +7 |
| Corey Kispert | 18 | 5 | 2-6 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -3 |
| Jalen Wilson | 9 | 8 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2-2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Asa Newell | 16 | 8 | 4-8 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -5 |
| Zuby Ejiofor | 12 | 4 | 1-4 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -8 |
| Jock Landale | 9 | 2 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +1 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 20 | 13 | 4-9 | 3-6 | 2-2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +13 |
| RayJ Dennis | 15 | 7 | 2-5 | 0-2 | 3-4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -6 |
| Kobe Johnson | 9 | 0 | 0-4 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Kingston Flemings | 18 | 8 | 4-7 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -2 |
Indiana Pacers — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pascal Siakam | 22 | 13 | 3-7 | 1-3 | 6-6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +4 |
| Ivica Zubac | 21 | 11 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 3-6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | -1 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 20 | 13 | 5-8 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +5 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 22 | 10 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 2-2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +4 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 20 | 7 | 2-6 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +5 |
| James Johnson | 5 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | 12 | 6 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -9 |
| Obi Toppin | 15 | 11 | 5-8 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -8 |
| Jalen Slawson | 13 | 12 | 4-5 | 1-1 | 3-6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | +5 |
| Jarace Walker | 20 | 10 | 3-7 | 2-5 | 2-2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | -11 |
| Jay Huff | 10 | 5 | 2-6 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 |
| Kobe Brown | 12 | 6 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 3-4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +8 |
| Ben Sheppard | 16 | 2 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -14 |
| Quenton Jackson | 12 | 6 | 2-4 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -9 |
| Braden Smith | 14 | 2 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +3 |
| Rienk Mast | 3 | 3 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +3 |
| Keba Keita | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 |
Atlanta Hawks — Team statistics
| FG | 39-90 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 43 |
| 3PT | 13-45 |
| Three Point % | 29 |
| FT | 28-30 |
| Free Throw % | 93 |
| Rebounds | 49 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 10 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 39 |
| Assists | 24 |
| Steals | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 |
| Turnovers | 14 |
| Team Turnovers | 0 |
| Total Turnovers | 14 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 13 |
| Fast Break Points | 18 |
| Points in Paint | 42 |
| Fouls | 26 |
| Largest Lead | 10 |
| Lead Changes | 13 |
| Percent Led | 68 |
Indiana Pacers — Team statistics
| FG | 39-76 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 51 |
| 3PT | 15-34 |
| Three Point % | 44 |
| FT | 24-32 |
| Free Throw % | 75 |
| Rebounds | 35 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 0 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 35 |
| Assists | 31 |
| Steals | 7 |
| Blocks | 5 |
| Turnovers | 17 |
| Team Turnovers | 0 |
| Total Turnovers | 17 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 22 |
| Fast Break Points | 15 |
| Points in Paint | 46 |
| Fouls | 28 |
| Largest Lead | 7 |
| Lead Changes | 13 |
| Percent Led | 27 |