A major upset is brewing – and the numbers are on the Hawks’ side.
The Hawks took a 2-1 series lead over the Pacers with a 98-85 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series Thursday night at Philips Arena. With it, the eighth-seeded Hawks took a big step in ousting the top-seed Pacers.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, in all-time best-of-seven series tied 1-1 the Game 3 winner has won 76.8 percent of the time. (152-46). Since the 2002-03 season, when the first round returned to best-of –seven, in series tied 1-1 the Game 3 winner has won 79.7 percent of the time (55-14). Only five times in NBA playoff history has a No. 8 seed upset a No. 1 seed in the first round.
“Obviously, we like where we are at,” Kyle Korver said. “We have to stay hungry. We have to go out there and take two more games. They are not going to lie down and give us two more games because we have more home games. We have to go out there and take them.”
History favors the Hawks.
The Hawks lead for all but 1:28 of the game. It still came down to the wire – with some controversy.
Jeff Teague hit a running off-balance 3-pointer with the shot clock about to expire with 2:50 remaining to give the Hawks an 87-78 lead. Teague stepped out of bounds before launching the prayer. The play was reviewed by officials but not to see if Teague was out of bounds but rather if the shot was a two- or three-pointer.
Following the game, head official Tony Brothers cited Rule 13: II (f) (3) which states the officials can only review the position of the player’s feet at the moment they last touched the floor immediately prior to the release of the shot.
“What they said was if you step out of bounds and step back inbounds, they are looking at the last step,” the Pacers’ David West said. “Even though Teague was out of bounds with his first step, his second step was back inbounds. It’s a messed up rule.”
Had the officials been able to waive off the basket, the Pacers would have trailed 84-78 with the ball.
“I couldn’t believe it went in,” Teague said. “I thought it was going to be an air ball. It didn’t feel good at all. I didn’t think that was going in honestly.”
Korver drained a corner 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining that gave the Hawks had a 92-80 lead and seal the victory.
Teague finished with a double-double of 22 points and 10 assists (a playoff career high). Korver had 20 points, including four 3-pointers. The Hawks also got double figures from DeMarre Carroll (17 points), Paul Millsap (14) and Lou Williams (11).
“The defensive effort and the defensive activity is the message we’ve been talking about coming down the stretch and in the playoffs,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “For our group to be that committed on the defensive end and win a game that was very physical is a credit to our group.”
Lance Stephenson led the Pacers with 19 points. Luis Scola had 17 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Paul George was held to 12 points. The Pacers key players of George, Roy Hibbert and George Hill were a combined 6 of 35 for 20 points.
In a series where the opening two games were decided in the third quarter, the Hawks started the period with an 11-4 run. They led by as many as 10 points in the quarter as they started connecting from 3-point range. The Hawks made 6 of 12 from long range after a 2 of 16 start. Williams buried a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to give the Hawks a 67-58 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks held a 39-38 lead after an ugly first half – for both teams.
The Hawks shot just 30 percent (12 of 40) through two quarters, including a woeful 12.5 percent (2 of 16) from 3-point range.
The Pacers shot 37.5 percent (15 of 40) in the first half. George was held scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting. He did have seven rebounds but also two fouls and three turnovers.
The Pacers controlled the opening tip but George was called for travelling with pressure in the corner by Carroll and Pero Antic. On the ensuing possession, George fouled Korver on a 3-point attempt.
The series continues with Game 4 Saturday afternoon.
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