Hawks have lost just twice in past seven games - both to Pacers

John Collins  of the Atlanta Hawks goes to the basket against the Indiana Pacers on December 31, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Credit: Ron Hoskins

Credit: Ron Hoskins

John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks goes to the basket against the Indiana Pacers on December 31, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Victor Oladipo scored 22 points while Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner each added 20 to lead the Indiana Pacers past the Atlanta Hawks 116-108 on Monday.

Indiana has won five straight and 12 of 14 to became the third team in the league with 25 wins this season.

John Collins finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds, his sixth straight double-double, to lead the Hawks. Rookie Kevin Huerter scored 22 points and made six 3-pointers, both season highs, as the Hawks lost for the second time in seven games - both to the Pacers in the last week.

Trae Young had 16 points and seven assists. Daniel Hamilton started in place of the injured Kent Bazemore and had eight points.

Oladipo played perhaps his best overall game since returning from a knee injury on Dec. 12. He was 9 of 19 from the field, had four rebounds and five steals.

Indiana led most of the game but needed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Turner to break a 60-60 tie just before halftime.

The Pacers then opened the second half with back-to-back baskets to make it 67-60, started pulling away when Turner and Bojan Bogdanovic made consecutive 3’s midway through the third to extend the lead to 87-76 and closed it out by scoring the final eight points of the quarter to take a 97-81 lead.

Atlanta couldn't get closer than six the rest of the way and did not score in the final 1:49 as it lost its fifth straight in Indianapolis.

But for the second consecutive game in the series, the Hawks seriously tested the league's top scoring defense.

They started the game by making four of their five 3’s and jumping to a 20-13 lead. Indiana charged back with 11 straight points and finished the first quarter on a 20-5 run that gave Indiana a 33-25 lead.

When the Hawks' 3-point shooters warmed up again, they roared back. They retook the lead, 53-51, at the end of an 11-4 before Indiana seized control.

The Hawks finished 0-3 against the Pacers this season, getting swept in the season series for the first time since 2004-05.

The Hawks make their second stop on a three-game road trip Wednesday at Washington.