Hawks vs Pacers: Game 2 Game Thread – Atlanta Looks To Go Up 2-0 In Series After Upsetting Indiana in Game 1

Apr 19, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard C.J. Watson (32) in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview

The Atlanta Hawks are hoping for a repeat performance of Game 1 while the Indiana Pacers look to right the ship in Game 2.

In Game 1, the 8th-seeded Hawks gave the top-seeded Pacers all they could handle in first-round Eastern Conference action. Atlanta held leads of up to 20 points for the bulk of the match, and a late Indiana surge wasn’t enough as they fell 101-93.

Click here for the full Game 2 preview.

—

One focus for the Pacers coming into Game 2 is how to contain Atlanta’s dynamic point guard Jeff Teague, who torched counterpart George Hill for new career playoff-high 28 points.

There is now evidence that Indiana may shake up their defensive assignments by putting All-Star small forward Paul George on Teague for Game 2.

Click here for the full story on the Pacers possible defensive shake up.

Quick Facts

Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers

What?: Game 2 of First-Round Playoff Series

Where?: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)

When?: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 – 7:00 PM (ET)

How?: TNT

Probable Starters

Atlanta Hawks:

PG: Teague | SG: Korver | SF: Carroll | PF: Millsap | C: Antic

Indiana Pacers:

PG: Hill | SG: Stephenson | SF: George | PF: West | C: Hibbert

Injury Report

Atlanta Hawks: Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery) and John Jenkins (lower back surgery) are out.

Indiana Pacers: Andrew Bynum (sore right knee) is out.

Current Records, Streaks & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold

Playoff Records: Atlanta Hawks (1-0) / Indiana Pacers (0-1)

Regular-Season Records: Atlanta Hawks (38-44) / Indiana Pacers (56-26)

Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Won 2 | HOME: Lost 1 | ROAD: Won 4                         Indiana Pacers –> OVERALL: Lost 1 | HOME: Lost 1 | ROAD: Won 1

Home/Away Records: Pacers were (35-6) at home / Hawks were (14-27) away.

Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm. The Hawks earned an impressive upset victory in Game 1, and have now won their last four road games including twice at Indiana dating back to April 6 when they put a 19-point thrashing on the Pacers.

Indiana Pacers: Cold. The Pacers were dominated at home by Atlanta in Game 1 on Saturday and also on April 6 in the team’s last regular-season meeting when they got pounded by 19 points.

Series Notes/Past Series Notes

The 2014 postseason marks the sixth time the Hawks and Pacers have met in the NBA Playoffs and fifth time in the opening round. Atlanta is 11-14 all-time against Indiana in the playoffs (7-4 at home and 4-10 on the road). They have lost three of the previous five playoff series versus the Pacers, including last season’s first round series, 4-2.

GAME 1 — HAWKS 101, PACERS 93 — INDIANAPOLIS — 4/19/14

A 16-2 first quarter run helped Atlanta turn an early 7-2 deficit into a 28-22 advantage after 12 minutes. The Pacers reclaimed the lead in the second but Kyle Korver’s putback layup as time expired knotted things at 50 at the break. The Hawks seized control in the third, outscoring the home team 24-8 over the first eight minutes of the stanza and taking an 80-66 lead to the final frame. Atlanta pushed the lead to as-many-as-20 in the fourth and never led by fewer than 10 until the final seconds. Jeff Teague had a postseason career-high 28 points and Paul Millsap added 25 for the Hawks. DeMarre Carroll had his first career playoff double-double with career-bests of 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Kyle Korver added 12 points. Paul George posted team-highs of 24 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks for Indiana. Atlanta shot .434 from the field for the game, while hitting 11-30 3FGs (.367) and 24-29 FTs (.828). Indiana made .420 FG%, 9-21 3FGs (.429) and 16-23 FTs (.696). The Hawks also had a 25-14 edge in points off turnovers.

Common Threads

Hawks Assistant Coach Jim Thomas played two seasons for Indiana (1983-85) after being selected by the Pacers in second round of the 1983 NBA Draft, following a standout career at Indiana University. Hawks Assistant Coach Darvin Ham played one game for the Pacers in 1996-97. Jeff Teague is a native of Indianapolis (Pike High School). Shelvin Mack attended Butler University in Indianapolis. Donald Sloan played five games for Atlanta in 2011-12. Kyle Korver and C.J. Watson teamed-up with Chicago from 2010-12. Korver (Chicago 2010-11) has also been teammates with Rasual Butler. George Hill (2008-11) and Ian Mahinmi (2007-10) played for San Antonio while Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer was an Assistant on the Spurs bench. Luis Scola teamed with DeMarre Carroll in Houston for part of 2010-11.

–

Information was used from the Hawks and Pacers official gamenotes

Don’t forget to “Like” the Soaring Down South Facebook page and “Follow” us on Twitter @SoaringDwnSouth to get up-to-date Atlanta Hawks/NBA news, rumors and analysis conveniently in your news feeds.