91
102
Monday, April 29th, 2013 at 7:30 PM EDT at Philips Arena
Game Rewind: Pacers 91, Hawks 102, Game 4
Scott Agness | April 29, 2013
Game Rewind
They had their chances late. Despite falling behind by as many as 19 points, the Indiana Pacers worked their way back, narrowed the gap to five with less than two minutes to go, but once again the Atlanta Hawks provided the final punch. Atlanta evened the series at two games apiece with a 102-91 win Monday night at Philips Arena.
Indiana’s loss extends their drought in Atlanta to 13 games, dating back to 2006.
Just like in Game 3, the Pacers pulled ahead in the early going. Back-to-back offensive rebounds and dunks by Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough put the Pacers up seven, but the Hawks quickly erased the deficit and scored the final eight points of the first quarter for a one-point edge. Atlanta would never trail again.
The Hawks weren’t done there, as they swelled their lead to double digits during a 22-3 run. Indiana left shooters open around the arc, particularly Kyle Korver and Anthony Tolliver off the bench, and Atlanta capitalized. They shot 55 percent from the floor in the first half, including a 7-of-8 clip from 3-point range. Josh Smith had 16 points to lead all scorers at the break – Atlanta led 57-40 – compared to just three points from Pacers swingman Paul George.
The Pacers got back in the game with their defense – blocked shots, charges and buckets in transition. They used a 15-1 run to get to within four points, as the Hawks went on a dry spell lasting 8:30. They could have tacked on a couple additional baskets if not for some misses around the rim. The Hawks only made three shots in the third and Josh Smith missed 6-of-12 foul shots. All nine of Indiana’s field goals in the period came in the paint and the Pacers entered the fourth behind by just seven.
Opportunities were there for the Pacers to go back ahead. They cut the Hawks’ lead to five points five different times, as late as the 1:46 mark. After George nailed a jumper, however, Al Horford responded with one as well and Smith, who played strong and aggressive all night, got an easy dunk in transition, which essentially put the game away with just over one minute remaining.
For the second straight game, Indiana was unable to overcome Atlanta’s big first half lead. The game swung in the Hawks favor in the second quarter, when the Pacers' shots weren't falling and they failed to contest well enough on the defensive end.
Forget a best-of-seven series. As the teams make their way back to Indy, it becomes a best-of-three series. The Pacers have a slight edge because they have the home court advantage. In the teams’ eight meetings this season, including the regular season, the home team has won each time.
Inside the Numbers
All five Indiana starters finished in double figures paced by 21 points and 12 rebounds from Paul George. David West had 15 and Roy Hibbert, who battled foul trouble, added 14.
Josh Smith led all scorers with 29 points, a new playoff career-high, along with 11 rebounds in 43 minutes. Kyle Korver had his best game of the series: 19 points off the bench on 7-of-11 shooting. Al Horford contributed 18 points.
After allowing 50 points in the paint in Game 3, the Pacers (+14) limited the Hawks to 28 on Monday.
The Hawks made 11-of-24 attempts from deep. Korver and Tolliver accounted for eight of them.
Atlanta attempted 38 free throws and connected on 25 of them. Indiana went 20-of-25 from the line.
The Hawks are 0-15 all-time in a best-of-seven series when down 0-2.
Quoteworthy
“[Kyle] Korver and [Anthony] Tolliver going 8-for-11 from the 3-point line was a major difference in the game. We got to do a better job early in the game, once they hit their first couple…[We] got to be accountable for their bench guys that came in and lit us up.” – Frank Vogel
“They took care of their business, we got to take care of ours, now back at our home court in Game 5.” – Frank Vogel
“I thought they took control of the game in that second quarter, again, and so we’re fighting up hill, fighting that battle and expending a whole lot of energy to get back in the game. We had opportunities in the third quarter but didn’t finish.” – David West
“It was the second quarter, a 35-19 difference. You’re not going to win on another teams’ floor when you put together a second quarter like that and yet we still had opportunities tonight. We didn’t capitalize in that third quarter.” – Paul George
“I was probably the most frustrated. Shots that I normally make – two wide-open layups, a couple wide-open threes – just didn’t drop. I got to start with myself [as] I’m very disappointed with the way I shot the ball. As a unit, I think we need to focus a little bit more and focus on making it.” – George Hill on the frustrations of the team
“We missed a lot of shots. I felt like we didn’t pick up guys in transition as well as we needed to. Obviously, Josh Smith got really hot and was the X-factor tonight. When he plays like that it’s tough to cover him and they hit a lot of threes.” – Tyler Hansbrough
Stat of the Game
The Hawks outscored the Pacers 35-19 in the second quarter to surge ahead by 19.
Noteworthy
- Ian Mahinmi returned to his role as backup center, moving ahead of Jeff Pendergraph.
- Hawks center Johan Petro had a son, Jacob, in Miami earlier Monday, but was able to make it back in time for the game.
- Jeff Pendergraph turned 26 years old on Monday.
- Fans at Philips Arena were given white rally towels.
- 6 points is the average margin of victory in the series.
Up Next
Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is on Wednesday, May 1. Time TBD.
Ticket Information
Get your tickets for the next playoff game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Game 5 is Wednesday night, May 1. Find Tickets »
