Collins leads deep Hawks attack in 143-130 win over Pacers
ATLANTA (AP) John Collins led eight Atlanta scorers in double figures with 21 points and the Hawks' overcame Jordan Nwora's season-high 33 points to beat the Indiana Pacers 143-130 on Saturday.
The Hawks set a season scoring high despite the loss of Trae Young, who was ejected in the third quarter. Four Atlanta backups scored in double figures, led by Saddiq Bey with 18 points.
“Our bench was unbelievable,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder, who added the backups “raised the level of competitiveness in the game.”
Dejounte Murray had 20 points in his return after missing two games with a non-COVID illness. Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had nine points, just missed giving the Hawks a ninth player in double figures.
That's bad news for Indiana's defense.
“We gave up well over 30 a quarter,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who added that playing without starting center Myles Turner, who was held out with a sore lower back, was a factor.
“But it's not an excuse,” he said. "We've got to be better than that.”
The Hawks (37-37) protected their shaky hold on the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. They began the day a half-game ahead of No. 9 Toronto and one game ahead of No. 10 Chicago in the tight competition for position in the play-in tournament.
Young was ejected after firing an unusually hard pass to referee Scott Wall during a timeout. Wall caught the ball. Young was immediately called for a technical foul and ejected.
“It's just a play he can't make,” Snyder said. “I told him that. He knows it.”
Only seconds earlier, Young had an apparent 3-pointer disallowed when he was called for a technical foul for sticking out his leg and tripping Aaron Nesmith. The technical foul was Young’s 15th of the season. A 16th technical foul results in an automatic one-game suspension.
Young had 14 points and five assists.
The game was tied at 84 when Young was ejected. The Hawks outscored the Pacers 21-14 the remainder of the period for a 105-98 lead.
Nwora, a second-year player, was acquired by Indiana from Milwaukee as part of a four-team trade on Feb. 9. He scored 21 points for the Bucks against Cleveland on Nov. 16 for his previous season high and topped that with 25 points in just the second quarter against Atlanta.
Nwora's scoring outburst led the Pacers to 39 points in the quarter for a 74-72 halftime lead.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 19 points and Buddy Hield had 16 for Indiana.
NWORA'S BIG GAME
Carlisle said it wasn't a complete surprise to see Nowra break out with his big game.
“He has the ability to get going,” Carlisle said. “We saw it when he was with Milwaukee against us. ... The thing I loved is he did it in the most efficient way. ... He's got the touch and he's got the range. He's a good player.”
Nwora, a 6-foot-9 forward from Louisville, started in four of his first 16 games with Indiana but came off the bench against Atlanta. He nailed a 3-pointer to open the third quarter and kept shooting, making 9 of 11 shots and four of four free throws in the period.
A BRIEF TOUCH OF DEFENSE
There was a brief display of defense in the third quarter, when the Hawks outscored the Pacers 33-24. It was the only period in which both teams did not score more than 30 points.
“I think we just executed the game plan,” said Murray of the defense in the period.
TIP-INS
Pacers: F Isaiah Jackson scored 14 points with five rebounds and three steals as the fill-in for Turner. ... G Chris Duarte (left ankle) played only 5 minutes after missing five consecutive games. ... Haliburton (right ankle) and F Bennedict Mathurin (right ankle) started after being listed as questionable. ... Nwora's career high is 34 points for the Bucks at Chicago on May 16, 2021.
Hawks: Clint Capela had 17 points and 17 rebounds. ... G De'Andre Hunter (left knee contusion) did not play. ... F Jalen Johnson (groin, hamstring) missed his fifth straight game.
UP NEXT
Pacers: After ending a four-game trip, Indiana hosts the Mavericks on Monday.
Hawks: Host Grizzlies on Sunday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Isaiah Jackson vs. Clint Capela (Trae Young gains possession) | ||
| 11:43 | | Dejounte Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:37 |  | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:26 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point cutting layup (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:14 | | John Collins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:11 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic offensive rebound | ||
| 11:06 | | +2 | Clint Capela makes two point reverse layup (Trae Young assists) | 2-2 |
| 10:51 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point pullup jump shot | 4-2 |
| 10:42 | | Trae Young misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:33 | | +3 | Andrew Nembhard makes three point pullup jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 7-2 |
| 10:19 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point driving layup (Dejounte Murray assists) | 7-4 |
| 10:07 | | Isaiah Jackson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:03 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:52 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point driving layup (Dejounte Murray assists) | 7-6 |
| 9:44 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:38 | | Tyrese Haliburton offensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point dunk (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 9-6 |
| 9:38 | | Hawks 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:16 | | Clint Capela turnover (traveling) | ||
| 8:55 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point stepback jump shot | 11-6 |
| 8:42 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:38 | | Clint Capela offensive rebound | ||
| 8:37 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:37 | | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | +3 | Andrew Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 14-6 |
| 8:00 | | +3 | John Collins makes three point jump shot (Dejounte Murray assists) | 14-9 |
| 7:49 | | Aaron Nesmith turnover (bad pass) (Bogdan Bogdanovic steals) | ||
| 7:42 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:38 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:35 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point running layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 16-9 |
| 7:20 | | Trae Young turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Jackson steals) | ||
| 7:15 | | Dejounte Murray blocks Tyrese Haliburton's two point running layup | ||
| 7:10 | | Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound | ||
| 7:02 | | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (bad pass) (Dejounte Murray steals) | ||
| 6:56 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point driving floating jump shot (Dejounte Murray assists) | 16-11 |
| 6:45 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving layup | 18-11 |
| 6:24 | | Isaiah Jackson shooting foul (Clint Capela draws the foul) | ||
| 6:24 | | +1 | Clint Capela makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-12 |
| 6:24 | | +1 | Clint Capela makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-13 |
| 6:11 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point cutting dunk (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 20-13 |
| 6:00 | | Dejounte Murray turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Haliburton steals) | ||
| 5:57 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point running dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 22-13 |
| 5:51 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point driving layup (Dejounte Murray assists) | 22-15 |
| 5:51 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 5:40 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:36 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 5:30 | | +2 | Dejounte Murray makes two point driving layup | 22-17 |
| 5:29 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:18 | | Jalen Smith misses two point hook shot | ||
| 5:15 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | +3 | AJ Griffin makes three point jump shot (John Collins assists) | 22-20 |
| 4:48 | | +3 | Jalen Smith makes three point jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 25-20 |
| 4:29 | | Dejounte Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:26 | | Clint Capela offensive rebound | ||
| 4:25 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point alley-oop dunk (Dejounte Murray assists) | 25-22 |
| 4:07 | | Jalen Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:05 | | Dejounte Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | T.J. McConnell kicked ball violation | ||
| 3:49 | | +3 | AJ Griffin makes three point pullup jump shot (Dejounte Murray assists) | 25-25 |
| 3:39 | | AJ Griffin blocks Tyrese Haliburton's two point driving layup | ||
| 3:38 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 3:32 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving layup (Jordan Nwora assists) | 27-25 |
| 3:32 | | AJ Griffin shooting foul (Tyrese Haliburton draws the foul) | ||
| 3:32 | | +1 | Tyrese Haliburton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-25 |
| 3:20 | | Trae Young turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Smith steals) | ||
| 3:15 | | Buddy Hield misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 3:10 | | Trae Young defensive rebound | ||
| 3:06 | | AJ Griffin misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 3:02 | | Onyeka Okongwu offensive rebound | ||
| 2:56 | | Saddiq Bey misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:51 | | AJ Griffin offensive rebound | ||
| 2:51 | | +2 | AJ Griffin makes two point tip layup | 28-27 |
| 2:42 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point cutting layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 30-27 |
| 2:30 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point driving floating jump shot | 30-29 |
| 2:15 | | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:14 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 2:14 | | Saddiq Bey personal foul (Loose ball) (Jalen Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 2:08 | | Jalen Smith turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 1:58 | | Jalen Smith blocks Trae Young's two point driving layup | ||
| 1:57 | | Hawks offensive rebound | ||
| 1:49 | | +2 | Saddiq Bey makes two point driving layup (Onyeka Okongwu assists) | 30-31 |
| 1:49 | | Jordan Nwora shooting foul (Saddiq Bey draws the foul) | ||
| 1:49 | | +1 | Saddiq Bey makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 30-32 |
| 1:33 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point pullup jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 32-32 |
| 1:18 | | +3 | AJ Griffin makes three point jump shot (Onyeka Okongwu assists) | 32-35 |
| 1:11 | | Garrison Mathews personal foul (Tyrese Haliburton draws the foul) | ||
| 1:00 | | +3 | Buddy Hield makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 35-35 |
| 0:54 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point driving floating jump shot | 35-37 |
| 0:33 | | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:29 | | Jalen Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 0:29 | | Jalen Smith turnover (bad pass) (Onyeka Okongwu steals) | ||
| 0:22 | | +2 | Onyeka Okongwu makes two point turnaround hook shot (Trae Young assists) | 35-39 |
| 0:03 | | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | AJ Griffin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Hawks offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | +3 | Jordan Nwora makes three point jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 38-39 |
| 11:28 | | +3 | Garrison Mathews makes three point stepback jump shot | 38-42 |
| 11:15 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 11:13 | | Jalen Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | Jalen Smith turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 11:10 | | Dejounte Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:10 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 10:53 | | Chris Duarte misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:48 | | Buddy Hield offensive rebound | ||
| 10:48 | | Jordan Nwora misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | +2 | Saddiq Bey makes two point pullup jump shot | 38-44 |
| 10:22 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point driving layup (T.J. McConnell assists) | 40-44 |
| 10:22 | | Garrison Mathews shooting foul (Jordan Nwora draws the foul) | ||
| 10:22 | | +1 | Jordan Nwora makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 41-44 |
| 10:01 | | AJ Griffin turnover (bad pass) (Chris Duarte steals) | ||
| 9:52 | | Chris Duarte turnover (lost ball) (Onyeka Okongwu steals) | ||
| 9:42 | | Saddiq Bey misses two point layup | ||
| 9:39 | | Onyeka Okongwu offensive rebound | ||
| 9:39 | | +2 | Onyeka Okongwu makes two point tip layup | 41-46 |
| 9:34 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point cutting dunk (Chris Duarte assists) | 43-46 |
| 9:15 | | Dejounte Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:12 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 8:58 | | Onyeka Okongwu blocks Chris Duarte's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:57 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 8:56 | | T.J. McConnell turnover (bad pass) (Garrison Mathews steals) | ||
| 8:52 | | +2 | Garrison Mathews makes two point running layup | 43-48 |
| 8:51 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:34 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot | 45-48 |
| 8:14 | | +2 | Dejounte Murray makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 45-50 |
| 8:03 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving reverse layup | 47-50 |
| 7:54 | | +3 | Garrison Mathews makes three point jump shot (Dejounte Murray assists) | 47-53 |
| 7:35 | | Jordan Nwora turnover (bad pass) (Onyeka Okongwu steals) | ||
| 7:30 | | Saddiq Bey misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:26 | | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | ||
| 7:24 | | Buddy Hield misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:20 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | Onyeka Okongwu misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 7:01 | | Saddiq Bey offensive rebound | ||
| 7:01 | | Saddiq Bey misses two point tip layup | ||
| 7:01 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 6:59 | | T.J. McConnell turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 6:37 | | Onyeka Okongwu offensive foul (Off the ball) (Jordan Nwora draws the foul) | ||
| 6:37 | | Onyeka Okongwu turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:26 | | +3 | Jordan Nwora makes three point stepback jump shot | 50-53 |
| 6:08 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point cutting dunk (Trae Young assists) | 50-55 |
| 5:52 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point pullup jump shot (Jalen Smith assists) | 52-55 |
| 5:37 | | Jordan Nwora personal foul (John Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 5:30 | | Trae Young misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:26 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 5:18 | | +3 | Jordan Nwora makes three point pullup jump shot | 55-55 |
| 5:05 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point driving finger roll layup | 55-57 |
| 4:52 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point cutting dunk (T.J. McConnell assists) | 57-57 |
| 4:50 | | Hawks 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:35 | | Saddiq Bey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:30 | | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | ||