Bogdan Bogdanovic scores 29, Hawks beat Pacers

Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 29 factors to steer the Atlanta Hawks previous the Indiana Pacers 132-123 on Monday night time.

Clint Capela and Kevin Huerter every contributed 22 factors and Capela added 15 rebounds for the Hawks, who’re tenth within the Japanese Convention. Trae Younger had 14 factors and a season-high 16 assists.

“They tried to take me out of it,” Younger mentioned. “I simply bought to get it to my teammates and allow them to make performs.”

Bogdanovic was a beneficiary.

“I all the time recognize Trae,” he mentioned. “We’d like different groups to maintain trapping him, so I can get wide-open pictures. I do know he’s going to maintain discovering me.”

Hawks coach Nate McMillan mentioned Younger pressured the Pacers to cease trapping him.

“Trae did job of being affected person and getting the ball to his teammates,” he mentioned. “Our guys had been flattening. Trae didn’t power the problem.”

Buddy Hield scored 26 factors for the Pacers, who’ve misplaced 4 consecutive video games and are out of playoff competition. Tyrese Haliburton scored 25 factors with 13 assists. Keifer Sykes added 16 factors for Indiana, hitting 4 of 6 3-pointers.

Atlanta shot 54.7% total whereas Indiana made 52.3%. The Hawks had 40-28 rebounding edge and dedicated 13 turnovers, one lower than the Pacers. The Pacers narrowed the deficit to 94-88 with 3:11 left within the third quarter, however the Hawks led 102-90 when the quarter ended.

Indiana closed the hole to 121-112, however the Hawks prevented it from getting too shut.

The Pacers had solely eight gamers out there. Oshae Brissett warmed up however was dominated out earlier than the sport with a sore again.

“Yeah, we’re down our bodies, however that is basketball and it is a possibility for any individual to step up and make performs and get extra minutes,” Hield mentioned. “Who does not like taking part in extra minutes?”

Atlanta led by as many as 18 factors within the first half and was forward 74-63 at halftime.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle mentioned a poor first quarter was the story of the sport.

“The remainder of the sport we performed significantly better,” Carlisle mentioned. We have now to get a greater begin. We did a trapping and rolled the cube on them. They made some open pictures. We have now to do higher (defensively), however I am not going to make excuses. We’re in a tricky spot with personnel, however we’ve got to do our greatest and we did not do our greatest tonight.”

TIP-INS

Hawks: De’Andre Hunter sat out with proper knee soreness. Danilo Gallinari was out a with proper elbow contusion. … Atlanta improved to 38-37 and have gained seven of its final 10 video games. The Hawks had been 0-for-5 of their earlier 5 makes an attempt to get above .500.

Pacers: Carlisle returned after lacking the previous two video games for private causes. … Myles Turner, who has been sidelined since Jan. 14 with a stress response in his left foot, won’t play within the remaining six video games. Carlisle mentioned Turner is near getting being able to play however mentioned it’s not price bringing him again for the ultimate two video games, that are on back-to-back nights. … Duane Washington Jr. sat out with a proper hip bruise. … Justin Anderson was signed to a second 10-day contract Monday.

BIG LIFT

Jalen Johnson, a rookie from Duke, scored 12 factors off the bench in prolonged minutes.

“Jalen is taking part in laborious and rebounding,” Younger mentioned. “It’s a tricky scenario not figuring out if you’re going to play. He did job of being prepared. He’s a sensible participant and may dribble a bit of bit. He can do a variety of issues for us.”

UP NEXT

Hawks: At Oklahoma Metropolis on Wednesday.

Pacers: Host Denver on Wednesday.