PACERS 113, HAWKS 96: Losing streak grows to four

Indianapolis —- The hits just keep coming for the Hawks.

Their 6-0 start is fading rapidly into the background as the injuries and losses mount.

They doubled up Tuesday night. They lost Al Horford to a sprained ankle with 5:12 to play in the first quarter and lost their fourth consecutive game, a humbling 113-96 beating at the hands of Indiana before a sparse crowd of 13,379 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Making matters even worse for the Hawks is that they have only a few hours to process where they go from here, with Washington coming to Philips Arena for a game tonight.

“We can’t beat anybody like this,” said Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson, referring to the recent inept efforts on defense as much as the team’s dwindling ranks.

As if they could sustain another injury with Josh Smith already out, potentially for up to a month with a high ankle sprain suffered Nov. 7, now they face the uncertain prospect of possibly playing without both him and Horford.

After his injury, Horford limped to the locker room and never returned, staying in the locker room to soak his ankle in ice. He walked out of the locker room on his own after the game and said he would begin treatment this morning with the hope of playing against the Wizards.

“I don’t want to use it as an excuse, but we’re just not at full strength right now,” said Hawks reserve guard Mo Evans, who scored 13 points Tuesday night. “We’ve been hobbling since that Boston game [the loss that started the four-game slide].

“Right now we’re just not the same team. That team can challenge the best teams in the NBA.”

With their two best interior defenders out of the game against the Pacers, it was obvious early on that the Hawks would be vulnerable inside.

By halftime the Pacers had a staggering 32-6 scoring edge in the paint and a 61-48 lead that the Hawks never recovered from.

“I think you’re just seeing the impact Josh Smith has on a game from a defensive standpoint,” Evans said. “He makes us that much better because of his athleticism. You combine his athleticism with all the other guys on this team, and that makes us a hard team to score on. You have him and Al out with injuries like we did tonight, and it’s a different game.”

Just how thorough was the Pacers’ waxing of the Hawks in the first half? They shot 58 percent from the floor (26-for-45) and 75 percent (6-for-8) from beyond the 3-point line. They also outrebounded the Hawks (25-18), had more than twice as many assists (16-6) and turned the ball over only nine times.

Danny Granger led six Pacers in double figures with a game-high 34 points, outdueling Johnson, who finished with 25 and seven rebounds.

Even after a day off Sunday to rest legs weary from a four-game road trip and a Monday practice devoted to recharging the defensive prowess that fueled their 6-0 run to start the season, the Hawks seemed slow-footed throughout Tuesday night.

“There’s no question, the first six wins, we rebounded and defended, and teams struggled to score against us,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said.

“Now we’ve got some gaps. Not having Josh Smith in there and Al tonight [hurt], but there’s no excuses. We’ve all been practicing together. We all just have to get on the same page and give the effort.”

NEXT FOR HAWKS

> Who: vs. Wizards

> When: 7 tonight

> TV; radio: FSSO; 790 AM