Nickeil Alexander-Walker matched his career high with nine 3-pointers and scored a season-high 34 points as the Atlanta Hawks beat the short-handed Indiana Pacers 108-104 on Monday night in Indianapolis.
Corey Kispert and Luguentz Dort had 14 points each and CJ McCollum added 13 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Atlanta, which shot 45.1% (23 of 51) from 3-point range. Onyeka Okongwu finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Indiana had just six available players and lost its fifth straight game. Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. was scratched with a bruised left knee before the game and joined 10 other players who were sidelined.
Jay Huff had 22 points and eight rebounds to lead the Pacers. Quenton Jackson scored 20 points, rookie Braden Smith had 19 points and 10 assists in his first career start, Kobe Brown had 16 points, Jarace Walker added 15, and Jalen Slawson chipped in 12.
Down 73-58 with 9:48 remaining in the third quarter, the undermanned Pacers pulled within eight by the end of the period.
Indiana cut the deficit to 93-90 on Jackson’s three-point play with 7:36 left in the fourth quarter before Atlanta responded with eight straight points, including consecutive 3-pointers by Dort and Alexander-Walker.
The Pacers refused to go away and pulled within 106-104 on Jackson’s dunk with 1:23 remaining. Okongwu scored with 10 seconds left for the final margin.
Indiana shot 47.5% from the field but just 23.5% (8 of 34) from beyond the arc.
Atlanta made seven of its 10 3-point attempts in the opening quarter and led 37-29 at the end of the period.
The Hawks extended their lead to 62-49 on McCollum’s trey with 3:44 left in the second quarter and held a 68-56 advantage at the half.
Alexander-Walker scored 19 points in the first half for Atlanta, whose 15 3-pointers tied the franchise record for most made in any half.
Atlanta played without Jalen Johnson (left ankle sprain) and Kingston Flemings, who served a one-game suspension for elbowing New Orleans’ Bryce McGowens in the head during the Hawks’ 121-99 loss to the Pelicans last Saturday.
–Field Level Media
