Preview: Hawks at Pacers
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[November 23, 2016]
Nate McMillan could face a
thankless task when the Indiana Pacers head coach makes out his
lineup for Wednesday night’s home contest with the Atlanta Hawks,
considering he had no idea Tuesday if any of his top four scorers
are healthy enough to play. The quartet of Paul George, Jeff Teague,
Myles Turner and C.J. Miles, who combine for 64.7 points per
contest, either did not play in Monday’s blowout loss to Golden
State or were injured in the contest.
“Injuries are a part of it and the game has to be played,” McMillan
told reporters after the Pacers – one day removed from a stirring
overtime victory at Oklahoma City – were dispatched 120-83 by the
Warriors, a game in which George (sore left ankle), Turner (right
ankle sprain) and Miles (sore left knee) did not play and Teague
sprained his right ankle in the third quarter. Atlanta has lost
three in a row and the latest one was ugly, a 112-94 home loss to
New Orleans during which the Hawks trailed by 22 at halftime. “We’ve
hit a little bit of a rough spot,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer
told reporters after the loss. “The beauty of an 82-game schedule,
and the challenge of an 82-game schedule, is the chance to pull
ourselves out of it.” Including Wednesday, the Hawks play their next
five games on the road, where they are 3-3 on the season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), FSN Indiana
ABOUT THE HAWKS (9-5): There will be plenty of focus on point guard
Dennis Schroder – who the Hawks turned to in trading Teague to the
Pacers this offseason – and the 23-year-old is averaging 14.5 points
and 5.7 assists in his first season as a starter. Center Dwight
Howard ranks among the league leaders in rebounds, pulling down 12.7
per contest, while shooting 60.3 percent from the field. Atlanta
allowed 100 points or more just four times in its first 12 games,
but has surrendered an average of 105.3 points per game during the
losing streak.
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ABOUT THE PACERS (7-8): Indiana had scored 100 or more points 10
times in its first 15 games, but lacking its typical firepower was
overwhelmed in suffering its worst home loss in franchise history.
Teague’s injury comes at a tough time entering his first career
matchup with the Hawks after seven seasons in Atlanta, the point
guard averaging 18.4 points while shooting 48.9 percent from the
field in his past 11 contests. Rodney Stuckey scored 21 points in 24
minutes off the bench Monday, while reserve Kevin Seraphin recorded
a career-high 14 rebounds.
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BUZZER BEATERS
1. Atlanta is second in the NBA in forced turnovers per game (16.6),
while the Pacers rank third (16.2).
2. The Pacers are 6-3 at home, and have finished with a winning
record at home for 27 consecutive seasons.
3. Atlanta rookie F Taurean Prince scored a career-high 10 points
Tuesday, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point
range.
PREDICTION: Hawks 108, Pacers 103
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