ATLANTA — Trae Young delivered an impressive performance with 36 points, supported by Caris LeVert’s 26-point contribution off the bench, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a narrow 120-118 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. This win marked Atlanta’s third triumph in their last four games.
The Hawks saw significant contributions from Onyeka Okongwu as well, who recorded 16 points and an equal number of rebounds. Despite establishing a commanding 20-point lead by the end of the first quarter and sustaining a 17-point advantage at halftime, the Pacers mounted a comeback to briefly seize the lead midway through the fourth quarter. However, the Hawks executed crucial plays in the final stretch to secure the win.
Bennedict Mathurin returned to action after a four-game absence due to a wrist injury, leading the Pacers with 30 points. Unfortunately for Indiana, they were missing their standout player Tyrese Haliburton, who ranks fourth in the NBA for assists with an average of 8.9 per game, due to a hip strain. Pascal Siakam also contributed to the Pacers’ effort with 23 points.
In a dramatic turn, Young had to temporarily leave the court with an apparent thigh injury with just under three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Nevertheless, he made a return after four minutes and, while noticeably favoring his left leg, managed to score 10 points and provide three assists in the final quarter.
The Pacers showcased resilience by staging a strong rally in the second half in the absence of Haliburton, yet fell short of completing their comeback effort. Notably, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the Hawks’ improvements post-trade deadline, and LeVert substantiated this by stepping up from the bench with a crucial performance.
A pivotal moment unfolded with Indiana trailing 119-116 and just 7.4 seconds on the clock, when the Pacers surged down the court and opted for a two-point dunk by Siakam instead of attempting a game-tying three-pointer.
On the defensive end, Dyson Daniels made an impact with five steals, bringing his season total to 178, a mark not seen since Ricky Rubio’s 191 steals during the 2013-14 season.
Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to host the Sixers on Monday night during the fifth game of their extended seven-game homestand. Meanwhile, the Pacers will be traveling to face the Bulls on Monday night as they aim to rebound from their narrow defeat.
