Thaddeus Young scored 21 points, Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans each added 19, and the Indiana Pacers won their third straight game with a 129-121 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
The Pacers, who began the night with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, have won 10 of 12. Indiana coach Nate McMillan used nine players, eight of whom finished in double figures.
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Thaddeus Young scored 21 points, Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans each added 19, and the Indiana Pacers won their third straight game with a 129-121 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
It was an off night for the Pacers' defense, which entered with the NBA's best scoring average. The Hawks, who have the league's second-worst offense, stayed close by hitting 17 3-pointers.
Evans deked rookie Kevin Huerter on the perimeter and drove the lane for a layup that made it an eight-point lead. His 3 put the Pacers up 11 with 3:37 to go.
Darren Collison finished with 11 points and eight assists for Indiana, which improved to 23-12. Trae Young had 17 points and nine assists for Atlanta, which dropped to 9-24.
Hawks: Collins returned to the lineup after missing the past two games with a left ankle sprain. He turned the same ankle during the preseason and missed the first 15 games. He has a double-double in nine of his last 10 games. ... Bazemore took a career-high 25 shots from the field. ... Dedmon started in place of Alex Len, sidelined by a sore back. ... F Omari Spellman had five points in seven minutes after missing eight games with right hip soreness.
Hawks: Visit Minnesota on Friday.
Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce reacts in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)
Kent Bazemore tied a career high with 32 points, John Collins added 21 points and 11 rebounds and Dewayne Dedmon had 18 points and a season-best 15 rebounds for the rebuilding Hawks, who had won three straight.
Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) competes for a rebound with Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)
It was an off night for the Pacers' defense, which entered with the NBA's best scoring average. The Hawks, who have the league's second-worst offense, stayed close by hitting 17 3-pointers.
Cory Joseph's 3 and fast-break layup ended a 19-10 run that gave the Pacers an 87-85 lead in the third quarter. Indiana never trailed after Myles Turner hit a 3 to make it 90-88 in the final minute of the period, and Young's 3 pushed the lead to seven with a second to go.
The Pacers took charge in the fourth. Joseph fed Sabonis for an inside basket, Evans drove the lane on a fast break to feed Young, and Sabonis converted a three-point play to extend the margin to 102-93 with 9:03 remaining. Joseph followed with a 3 that gave Indiana its first double-digit advantage.
Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) is defended by Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)
Evans deked rookie Kevin Huerter on the perimeter and drove the lane for a layup that made it an eight-point lead. His 3 put the Pacers up 11 with 3:37 to go.
Young and Sabonis each scored inside in the final two minutes to hold Atlanta back when it pulled within five.
Young has been producing at a high clip recently, averaging 18.8 points and nearly 10 rebounds in his previous four games.
Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) has his shot deflected by Atlanta Hawks guard Justin Anderson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)
Darren Collison finished with 11 points and eight assists for Indiana, which improved to 23-12. Trae Young had 17 points and nine assists for Atlanta, which dropped to 9-24.
TIP-INS
Pacers: It was Indiana's fourth victory in its last 21 games at Atlanta. ... Evans missed the previous two games with a right knee bruise. ... Sabonis finished two rebounds shy of his 16th double-double. He already has matched his total from last season. ... Sabonis was averaging 9.6 rebounds, tops among players who have started fewer than half their games. He has made one start in 33 games.
Atlanta Hawks guard Jeremy Lin (7) reacts as he has the ball knocked away during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)
Hawks: Collins returned to the lineup after missing the past two games with a left ankle sprain. He turned the same ankle during the preseason and missed the first 15 games. He has a double-double in nine of his last 10 games. ... Bazemore took a career-high 25 shots from the field. ... Dedmon started in place of Alex Len, sidelined by a sore back. ... F Omari Spellman had five points in seven minutes after missing eight games with right hip soreness.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Detroit on Friday.
Atlanta Hawks guard Justin Anderson (1) and center Dewayne Dedmon (14) go up for the double jam in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)
Hawks: Visit Minnesota on Friday.
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Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) goes up for a layup in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)
Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce reacts in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoTodd Kirkland)