In a highly anticipated matchup, the Indiana Pacers (35-26) began a crucial seven-game stretch with a tough loss to the Atlanta Hawks (28-34), despite Pascal Siakam’s impressive 35-point performance. The Pacers were missing Tyrese Haliburton due to a hip flexor strain, leading to a starting lineup featuring Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner. Indiana started strong in the first quarter, building a lead of 31-21, with Siakam leading all scorers with 8 points.
However, the Hawks came back strong in the second quarter, taking control and finishing the half with a lead of 63-56, despite Siakam’s 16 points. The third quarter saw back-and-forth action, with the Hawks cutting the deficit before ultimately taking an 82-81 lead. The fourth quarter proved challenging for the Pacers, with the Hawks outscoring them 36-25 and securing a 124-118 victory. Georges Niang led the Hawks with 24 points, while Trae Young recorded 22 points and 16 assists.
The loss puts the Pacers at 35-26 for the season, with a 5-3 record after the All-Star break. Indiana is now looking towards their rematch against the Hawks on Saturday night, hoping to bounce back from this defeat. The team is currently one game behind Milwaukee for 4th place in the Eastern Conference and has a one-game lead over Detroit for 5th place. Next up, the Pacers will face the Hawks again in another crucial matchup as they aim to improve their standing in the conference and secure a playoff spot.
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