Pacers Hold Off Hawks Despite Key Prediction Falling Short

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Feb 1, 2025 9:28 PM ET

The Indiana Pacers kept the good times rolling on Saturday, beating the Atlanta Hawks, 132-127. The Pacers saw their 18-point first-half lead disappear but were able to bounce back down the stretch and eke out a win, passing the Milwaukee Bucks and taking over fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Pacers were led by Pascal Siakam's 20 points. The soon-to-be third-time All-Star added nine rebounds and five assists for good measure, but five other Pacers cracked 15 points, solidifying a team effort.

As a whole, the Pacers shot 36.4 percent from 3-point range, only slightly behind the Hawks' mark. Before the game, Andrew Nembhard emphasized that the Pacers would have to slow down Trae Young. The All-Star "snub" shot 5-15 from deep but finished with a game-high 34 points.

Dyson Daniels added 23 points and only a single season, and if it weren't for the loss of Jalen Johnson due to a shoulder injury, the Pacers likely would have lost the game.

Obi Toppin, who has been a subject of trade rumors as of late, added a game-high 18 bench points. While Indiana navigates a difficult and exciting NBA trade deadline, Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin, and Myles Turner will all be names to watch.

The Pacers will have a day off before traveling to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz on Monday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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