The Hawks overcame one poor-shooting quarter - but not two.
Not against the Pacers. Not against the NBA’s top-ranked defense.
The Pacers took advantage of the Hawks’ third-quarter shooting woes to break open a close game but still had to hold off a fourth-quarter rally for an 89-85 victory Tuesday night at Philips Arena.
The Hawks battled back from a 26 percent shooting effort in the first quarter. They could not survive a 30 percent effort in the third quarter. The Pacers opened the second half with a 13-4 run and ran away from the Hawks. They led by as many as 11 points after three quarters, holding the Hawks to 12 points, and pushed the lead to 16 points by the fourth quarter.
“It’s important that we give Indiana credit for their defense but I think we did have some decent looks that we didn’t make,” coach Mike Budenholzer said of the Hawks’ offense. “We probably weren’t as aggressive. We weren’t has decisive as we normally are and as you need to be against a good defensive team. I think there were opportunities that were decent that a majority of the season we made or converted on those opportunities. I think it’s important to give them the credit first and then we have lots of areas to improve.”
The Hawks nearly erased the 16-point deficit. The used a 17-5 run in the fourth quarter to pull within four points, 78-74, with 2:23 remaining. The Pacers answered with a David West basket and a Paul George steal and wind-mill dunk off a bad pass from Dennis Schroder to push the lead back to eight points.
“I didn’t see him,” said Schroder, part of a second and third unit responsible for the comeback. “That was a tough turnover. I learned from it, for sure. It was the kind of mistakes I can’t do.”
The Hawks pulled to within two points, 86-84, on a Cartier Martin 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds remaining. The Pacers’ C.J. Watson made one free throw with 13.2 seconds left. The Hawks got the rebound off the miss and pushed it up the floor before Millsap was fouled with 4.1 seconds left. He made just one of his free attempts.
Danny Granger made two free throws with 3.8 seconds left to clinch it for the Pacers.
The Hawks (25-22, 16-8 home) had their two-game win streak snapped. They lost a regular-season home game to the Pacers for the first time since Dec. 22, 2006, a span of 12 games.
Mike Scott finished with 15 points, his 12th straight game in double figures off the bench, to lead the Hawks. Elton Brand added 12 points off the bench. Kyle Korver extended his NBA-record streak to 116 games with a 3-pointer.
All-Star Paul Millsap was held to seven points on 2 of 11 shooting. He did pull down 12 rebounds. In two games against the Pacers this season, Millsap is a combined 3 of 21 with 11 points.
The Hawks late rally was done mostly with a unit of Shelvin Mack, Martin, Scott, Schroder and Millsap. Starters Jeff Teague, Gustavo Ayon and DeMarre Carroll did not play in the fourth quarter. Martin and Scott played all 12 minutes and Schroder played 10 minutes.
“We were searching for things that could work,” Budenholzer said. “Not defensively, searching for things that would work offensively. That group got into a pretty good rhythm and was making things happen. Obviously, they were the ones who cut it from a double-digit lead and got us down to two.
“It’s always a tough decision for a coach. Those starters are obviously guys who we believe in and feel strongly about. Tonight, we just stuck with the group that cut the lead and let them try to get the win.”
The Eastern Conference leading Pacers (38-10, 15-8 road) have won three straight.
West led the Pacers with a game-high 22 points. George added 18 points.
The Pacers broke open the game after a back-and-forth first half. They started the third quarter with 13-4 run. The Hawks shot 30 percent (6 of 20) in the decisive third period.
The Hawks took a 43-42 lead into halftime after surviving a miserable first quarter. They shot just 26 percent (6 of 23) in the opening period. They only trailed by four points despite the fact the Pacers shot 53 percent (9 of 17) due to seven first-quarter turnovers.
The Pacers took a seven-point advantage, 22-15, in the second quarter with an 11-0 run between the first two periods. The Hawks failed to score for 6:28, missed 11 straight shots and committed four turnovers.
A 16-4 run put the Hawks back on top as they shot 73 percent (11 of 15) in the second quarter.
“They are the best defensive team in recent history, right?” Korver said. “They are tough. I thought there were times when we were forced to take some tough shots and there were some times when we missed some open ones. The open ones you get against this team you just have to make. Tough loss.”
Hawks conclude a back-to-back at the Pelicans Wednesday.
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