The Hawks looked a lot like the team that posted 60 victories last season, winning their past two games quite convincingly with an efficient offense and tenacious defense. Atlanta will attempt to secure its first win over the Pacers this year after losing the first two of the season series in Indianapolis.
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LOOK AHEAD
A matchup with the Hawks will be the final road game for Indiana ahead of the All-Star break. The Pacers head home following this one and close out the first half of the season with three games, including two against clubs they’re battling with for a playoff spot. A quick turnaround has the Pacers hosting Detroit on Saturday and Charlotte next Wednesday. Those two teams currently sit below the Pacers in eighth and ninth place respectively in the Eastern Conference. While the Pacers try to stave off their closest pursuers, they are nipping at the heels of the Hawks for a top-four spot. While there are still roughly 30 games left in the season, wins now are just as important as wins in April.
The Hawks settled into the middle of the pack in the East by recently losing five of six games when their offense sputtered. They showed signs of breaking out by averaging 118 points over their past two games, which were also wins. Atlanta closely resembled last season’s squad with convincing wins over Dallas and at Philadelphia. The Hawks look to continue that run of good play and beat the Pacers for the first time this season. Indiana captured a 93-87 win on Dec. 28 and a 111-92 decision on Jan. 28. Those two games were played in Indianapolis, and now the Hawks get a revenge opportunity on their home floor.
INJURIES
Ian Mahinmi has missed the last three Pacers games with a sore lower back and is questionable to return against the Hawks. His absence created minutes for rookie Myles Turner, who has gladly accepted the additional time on the court.
The Hawks will likely be without center Tiago Splitter for a third straight game as he continues to be bothered by a hip injury. It’s the same injury that cost him seven games in November. He’s averaging 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 36 games this season.
KEY MATCHUP
The Pacers tinkered with the idea of using a small-ball lineup. They stuck with the idea for a little while and it brought mild success. But recently, coach Frank Vogel moved to a more traditional two-big lineup. One of the main reasons for the change is the emergence of rookie forward Myles Turner, who team president Larry Bird said was the best shooter on the team. Turner missed time earlier in the season with a fractured thumb and was eased back into things. Now he’s thriving. Turner has started three games this NBA season, all in the past week, and in those games he’s averaging 14 points, 8.3 rebounds and three blocks. Overall, his numbers per 36 minutes are extremely impressive, and the scary thing is that he will likely only get better. The Hawks don’t offer much resistance defensively against Turner. They lack a true center and Al Horford, who routinely plays the position in Atlanta, gives up several inches and pounds to the Pacers’ big man. Turner has become a featured part of Indy’s game and that won’t stop against the Hawks.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
While the Pacers are enjoying the emergence of Turner as a viable scoring threat, their leader, Paul George, feels his role with the team is changing and the internal struggle has a grip on him. George was able to roam the court and do whatever he wanted in the small-ball lineup, and he was successful. But the Pacers have reverted back to a traditional two-post lineup and George is trying to figure out how he can excel alongside Turner and a healthier Monta Ellis. For the second time in three games, Turner attempted more shots than George. As the season has progressed, George has attempted fewer shots per game each month. Indy needs George to be engaged, he’s just too prolific of an offensive threat. When he becomes a second or third option, the Pacers are going to suffer.
Atlanta 103, Indiana 96
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