The Atlanta Hawks are again in motion tonight – absent a well-recognized face.
Whereas the Hawks did decide up a win towards the Nets of their final sport, Trae Younger left the primary quarter with a proper knee sprain. Despite the fact that he hasn't persistently performed at his common normal, Younger's absence goes to depart a dearth of playmaking for Atlanta to beat.
It stays to be seen precisely how lengthy it’ll take for his return, however within the meantime, the Hawks are going to be shorthanded towards the winless Indiana Pacers. After making the NBA Finals final season, the Pacers are poised for a rebuilding season. Franchise level guard Tyrese Haiburton is sidelined for the yr whereas recovering from an Achilles tear, however he's not the one large damage the Pacers have needed to overcome. 4 members of their Finals lineup – Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, TJ McConnell and Andrew Nembhard – are sidelined for tonight's sport.
Indiana is definitely battered in the mean time, however they'll be further motivated to get their first win of the yr. Thankfully, Atlanta has some momentum heading into this sport. Jalen Johnson led the way in which with 23 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists whereas offseason additions Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker mixed for 35 factors. They'll want an analogous staff efficiency to be able to get again to a .500 file tonight.
This sport additionally has large ramifications for Atlanta's rivalry within the In-Season Match. Final yr, the Hawks misplaced within the NBA Cup Semifinals to the eventual Cup winners, the Milwaukee Bucks, in a 110-102 loss. To keep away from an analogous destiny, they'll want to start out by successful their simple matchups. Proper now, Indiana tasks to be that.
The Hawks' offense had a very good evening towards a hapless Brooklyn protection, which is pushing them up the rankings. They're twenty third in factors, nineteenth in FG%, nineteenth in 3P%, twenty first in FT%, twenty sixth in rebounds (twentieth in OREB), eighth in assists and 4th in turnovers per sport. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be shocking if these numbers took a little bit of a decline. Younger's flooring on offense can't be simply changed.
Brooklyn's heavy reliance on three-pointers leaves them on the mercy of taking pictures variance and fortunately, it swung in Atlanta's favor throughout their matchup and improved their total numbers. In a per-game foundation, Atlanta ranks twentieth in factors allowed, twenty eighth in FG% allowed, fifth in 3P% allowed, twenty sixth in rebounds allowed, seventeenth in steals and fifteenth in blocks.
The accidents have wreaked havoc on a beforehand robust Pacers offense. They rank twenty fifth in factors, twenty ninth in FG%, twenty sixth in 3P%, thirtieth in FT%, 2nd in rebounds (fifth in OREB), twenty seventh in assists and seventh in turnovers per sport. Their rebounding numbers have saved them in video games, however it's a far cry from the offensive juggernaut Indiana had final season.
Despite the fact that the Pacers have been in a position to maintain up on the level of assault, their protection hasn't been a lot better. They're twenty second in factors allowed, eleventh in FG% allowed, 2nd in 3P% allowed, twenty ninth in rebounds allowed, thirtieth in steals and eleventh in blocks.
The Hawks have been removed from excellent to start the season, however they've gotten pretty constant manufacturing from their facilities. That continued towards the Nets, the place each Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu had good video games. Porzingis did a pleasant job of moving into the vacated playmaking function left by Younger's damage, allotting seven assists as an offensive hub. He solely related on two of his seven three-point makes an attempt, however he's nonetheless taking pictures 45% from deep on the yr. Okongwu took a unique strategy – he dominated on the boards with a 12 level, 14 rebound double-double. It's his third straight sport with 10+ rebounds, which has been a very good complement to Porzingis' perimeter-based skillset.
Though it's considerably mitigated by the lack of Younger, Indiana has struggled to chorus from fouling. They're thirtieth in opponent free throw tried charge and steadily put groups on the line. Atlanta's nineteenth in FTA charge, so it isn't an enormous mismatch. Nonetheless, they haven't confronted a staff that fouls fairly as a lot because the Pacers. If the Hawks can convert on their free throws, it'd be a giant benefit over Indiana.
Whereas it wasn't immediate, Atlanta's function gamers are lastly beginning to spherical into their anticipated type. Kennard stepped into an even bigger function versus Brooklyn due to Younger's absence and feasted, going 4-5 from deep and scoring 17 factors alongside two assists. If he can tackle an even bigger playmaking function whereas selecting his spots effectively from deep, the offense may have the ability to survive fairly effectively with out Trae. Alexander-Walker additionally has begun to appear like the two-way wing the Hawks anticipated to amass. He ut completed with 18 factors, 11 of which got here within the second half, whereas grabbing three rebounds and allotting three assists. His protection was particularly spectacular – NAW obtained two steals and blocked three pictures whereas closing the sport on Cam Thomas. Tonight's sport shall be a take a look at of how a lot Atlanta has improved their depth. If they will beat the groups they’re presupposed to with or with out Trae Younger, that bodes effectively for his or her long-term upside.
Whereas the Pacers' accidents have definitely taken a toll, their frontcourt has been glorious. Pascal Siakam continues to be a extremely succesful All-Star and averaging a career-best 26.3 factors, 11 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He's obtained assist too – extremely touted ahead Jarace Walker is lastly delivering on the promise Indiana noticed once they choosing him within the lottery. Walker is averaging a career-high 11 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists. The effectivity hasn't been there, however Walker continues to be an athletic drive that the Hawks may need bother containing.
Atlanta's most constant subject this yr has been their transition protection and that might be an issue towards the Pacers, who lead the NBA in quick break factors per sport. This can be a good alternative for the Hawks to indicate that they will develop in that space, however Indiana definitely isn't going to make it simple on them.
The Pacers additionally do a comparatively good job of limiting turnovers – they're seventh in that metric. Though Dyson Daniels has been taking part in nice protection, his offense wants to come back alongside in order that he can keep on the court docket lengthy sufficient to disrupt Indiana's offense. The mix of Daniels and Alexander-Walker on protection have but to be totally unleashed as a duo – may this be the sport the place it occurs?
Atlanta Hawks:<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0Trae Younger is out. <\/p>\n

Indiana Pacers:<\/strong><\/u> Taelon Peter is questionable whereas Johnny Furphy, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, TJ McConnell, Kam Jones and Tyrese Haliburton are all out.
Right here is how one can watch tonight's sport:
Tip-off time: 7:00 p.m. Japanese Time
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
The place to Watch: FanDuel Sports activities Community
Unfold and Over\/Beneath: The Hawks shall be favored on the highway tonight as they’re at present 2.5 level favorites in accordance with the newest odds from the\u00a0Fanduel Sportsbook<\/a>,\u00a0and the over\/underneath is about at 230.5.
Hawks<\/strong>
G – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
G – Dyson Daniels
F – Zaccharie Risacher
F – Jalen Johnson
C – Kristaps Porzingis
Pacers<\/strong>
G – Ben Sheppard
G – Aaron Nesmith
F – Jarace Walker
F – Pascal Siakam
C – Isaiah Jackson
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Rohan Raman has been protecting the Atlanta Hawks for On SI since June 2024. He has been a contributor to Georgia Tech Athletics for On SI since Could 2022 and enjoys offering considerate evaluation of soccer, basketball and baseball on the collegiate {and professional} degree.
\u00a9 2025 ABG-SI LLC<\/a> – SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. – All Rights Reserved. The content material on this website is for leisure and academic functions solely. Betting and playing content material is meant for people 21+ and is predicated on particular person commentators' opinions and never that of Sports activities Illustrated or its associates, licensees and associated manufacturers. All picks and predictions are strategies solely and never a assure of success or revenue. Should you or somebody you realize has a playing drawback, disaster counseling and referral providers will be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/p>\n

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