Hawks 89, Pacers 86
ATLANTA -- Jeff Teague scored five of his 15 points in the last minute of the game, and Lou Williams eluded multiple defenders to put the Atlanta Hawks ahead for good in an 89-86 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night at Phillips Arena.
The Pacers and the Hawks, alternately hot and cold in the second half after a fast-paced first half, dueled to the wire, but the Hawks' 20-3 run capped the game.
The Pacers scored 18 consecutive points in the third quarter to break open what had been a one-point Atlanta lead at the half -- 51-50 -- and take a 77-65 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks scored six quick points just before the five-minute mark in the fourth quarter, then Kyle Korver hit two 3-point shots in less than a minute.
David West and George Hill led the Pacers with 20 points each. Paul George had seven rebounds to go with 13 points.
Al Horford had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Hawks, and Zaza Pachulia, making his first start of the season, had 14 rebounds.
It was a physical, fast-paced game from the start. Josh Smith and West were running, jumping and scoring early -- West scored 8 of the Pacers' first 11 points.
The Pacers led the Hawks 25-22 after the first quarter, but the Hawks bench out-scored the Pacers bench 21-6 to put the Hawks ahead 39-29 by 8:27 in the second quarter. But when both teams sent their starters in again the Pacers went on a 16-6 run, cutting the Hawks' lead went from 11 points to 1 at the half, 51-50.
NOTES: Pacers forward Danny Granger will miss three months after receiving an injection to treat patellar tendinosis in his left knee. The procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday in Gulf Breeze, Fla. ... Jeff Pendergraph (concussion) was inactive. ... Hawks coach Larry Drew says he likes a couple of lineups and likes the flexibility of being able to match up size-wise. He started Zaza Pachulia at center against the bigger Pacers. ... Smith was back in the starting lineup after missing a game with a sprained right ankle. He landed on James Harden's foot in the Hawks' home opener versus the Rockets last Friday. ... Johan Petro (lower back pain) will be inactive until he has some practices under his belt and is comfortable with the Hawks' plays.
