Pacers 114, Hawks 103
INDIANAPOLIS -- Not even a history of problems against the Atlanta Hawks could stop the Indiana Pacers from extending their home winning streak.
The Pacers picked up their 15th consecutive win at home as they defeated the Hawks 114-103 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.
The 15-game home winning streak is the longest for the Pacers since they ran off 25 in a row at home during the 1999-2000 season, which is also the same season they reached the NBA Finals.
All-Star Paul George led all five starters in double figures with 29 points. Forward David West and point guard George Hill added 15 points each. Hawks point guard and Indianapolis-native Jeff Teague scored 24 points.
The Pacers have found an offensive rhythm. They topped the 111 points they scored against Chicago on Monday. Their 114 points, which tied a season high, was earned with 48 percent shooting.
The Pacers needed the victory over the Hawks because they've struggled over the years against Atlanta. Tuesday was only the third victory in the past 16 tries for Indiana against Atlanta.
The Pacers played like a very lethargic team early in the game. Atlanta led by as many as six points in the first quarter and pushed its lead up to as many as 12 points in the second quarter before the Pacers closed the half on 19-6 run to take a one-point lead into the half.
Shooting guard Lance Stephenson scored nine of his 14 points in the first half.
The Pacers got their lead up to 11 points by the end of the third quarter and eventually broke it open even more in the fourth quarter.
Up 89-80, the Pacers wen not an 11-4 run to get their biggest lead of the game, 100-84, with 6:30 left in the game.
And with their third game in three nights coming up Wednesday at Philadelphia, Pacers coach Frank Vogel emptied his bench late in the game to save his starters.
NOTES: Pacers center Roy Hibbert didn't have to worry about facing one of the players has given him problems in his career. Hawks center Zaza Pachulia missed the game with a sore right Achilles. The Hawks have been a thorn in Hibbert's side throughout his career. He went into Tuesday's game averaging 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in 15 games against them. "I'm not even going to lie, playing against Atlanta hasn't gone well," Hibbert said. ... Since the Eastern Conference All-Star reserves were made, Pacers power forward David West went into Tuesday fourth in the league in scoring at 22.8 points. Only Miami's LeBron James, Cleveland's Kyrie Irving and New York's Carmelo Anthony were averaging more than West. ... The Hawks were also without guard Devin Harris (foot), Johan Petro (back) and Lou Williams (knee). ... The Pacers are still hoping that small forward Danny Granger (knee) will be able to play in at least one of their two games next week before the All-Star break.
