Hawks still unable to contain Pacers offense in 157-115 loss

The Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers faced off in the final game of the season for both teams. While the Hawks remained locked into the 10 seed regardless of outcome, the Pacers were playing to win in hopes of avoiding the play-in tournament.

The Pacers started out on a 8-0 run before the Hawks called their first timeout. The run extended to 21-6 before Bogdanovic put an end to the bleeding with a triple. Mo Gueye entered the game after, and went on to score 10 points in the quarter. However, the Pacers scored at will similarly to the last matchup in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, leading 49-34 at half.

With 7:35 remaining in the second quarter, the Hawks trailed 59-49 with Dejounte Murray scoring nine of his 11 points at the time in the second quarter. The Hawks brought it to 62-61 with back to back three-pointers from Mo Gueye and Dejounte Murray.

Murray then tied the game with a free throw, notching 20 points in this quarter alone. After the tie, the Pacers went on a 9-0 run and scored 86 points in the first half to the Hawks’ 72.

The Pacers opened it up in the second half, scoring 23 points in the first six minutes of the second half, leading 109-86. This lead extended as much as 115-89 before the Quin Snyder called a timeout. The Pacers continued to dominate scoring 125 points through three quarters.

The scoring continued through the fourth quarter, with the Hawks again not standing a chance against the Pacers offense. However, Trae Young passed Doc Rivers as the all-time leader in assists in Hawks franchise history.

Kobe Bufkin entered the game for the first time in the middle of the fourth, and immediately drained a midrange. The Pacers crossed 150 points for the third time against the Hawks this season, and continued to add on. The game ended with a final score of 157-115.