Pacers beat Hawks 129-124, overcoming Jalen Johnson's triple-double

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Nembhard scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 25 and the Indiana Pacers held off the Atlanta Hawks 129-124 on Saturday night.

Indiana nursed a single-digit lead for much of the third quarter and led 103-100 entering the fourth. It was tight the rest of the way before Siakam hit a crucial 12-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds remaining to push the Pacers ahead 127-123.

Aaron Nesmith added 23 points, Nembhard had 10 assists and Siakam shot 11 of 15 from the field. The Pacers won despite 23 turnovers.

Atlanta dropped its second straight game despite Jalen Johnson's eighth triple-double of the season. The forward finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points.

The Pacers have won seven of their past 12 games, enjoying a solid stretch of basketball after starting the season with a 6-31 record. Indiana has played all year without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season.

Indiana jumped to an 80-73 lead by halftime, spurred by a 45-point second quarter. Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points before the break while Nembhard also had 21 for the Pacers.

It was Indiana's highest scoring half of the season. The Pacers shot 58% from the field, including 11 of 20 (55%) 3-pointers.

Hawks: At Miami on Tuesday night.

Pacers: Host Houston on Monday night.

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Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, left, looses the ball in front of Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) dunks over Atlanta Hawks center Christian Koloko (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, right, shoots over Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) shoots in front of Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, left, shoots in front of Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was fined $50,000 by the NBA for “aggressively pursuing, berating, and making inadvertent contact with a game official” during a game on Friday night.

The NBA's head of basketball operations James Jones made the announcement on Saturday.

The incident happened after Atkinson was called for his second technical foul and ejected from the game with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of a 126-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Atkinson appeared to be upset about a no-call on Suns guard Collin Gillespie, who was aggressively guarding Sam Merrill on the perimeter.

The loss snapped Cleveland's five-game winning streak. The Cavaliers play again on Sunday against the Blazers.

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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson argues with officials after getting a technical foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is escorted off the court after being ejected for getting his second technical foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)