NBA: Pacers fall to Hawks in 108-104 loss
Indiana lost its fifth straight game despite a 22-point performance from Jay Huff while missing nearly its entire rotation.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Jay Huff scored 22 points as the Indiana Pacers lost 108 to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, ending a brief rally in the final minutes of the game.
The Pacers entered the contest short-handed, fielding a roster of just six players due to injuries and rest. That limited group included four starters and two players on two-way contracts. Quenton Jackson added 20 points and Braden Smith contributed 19 points and 10 assists for Indiana.
The game remained competitive until the final two minutes. Jackson stole the ball from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and scored a layup to cut the Atlanta lead to 106-104 with 1:36 remaining. Jackson then missed a three-point shot with 43.1 seconds left that would have taken the lead. Onyeka Okongwu hit a jumper with 10.2 seconds left to seal the win for Atlanta.
Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 34 points. The Atlanta team was missing Jalen Johnson due to a sprained left ankle, but the Pacers faced a much deeper bench of absentees. Kelly Oubre Jr. scratched late because of a bruised knee.
The sidelined Pacers included Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Johnny Furphy, T.J. McConnell, Larry Nance Jr., Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, and Ivica Zubac. Coach Rick Carlisle described the lineup as a matter of injury management.
The financial disparity between the active and inactive squads was stark. The players who sat out had a combined salary of about $193 million, while the players on the court earned about $15 million. Jarace Walker led Indiana in minutes played with 44, while Jackson played the fewest minutes of the active group at 34.
Indiana trailed for most of the first three quarters but never fell behind by more than 15 points. The Pacers will travel to Memphis on Wednesday, and the Hawks will visit Washington the same day.
