NBA: Teague makes his mark as Hawks overwhelm slumping Pacers

ATLANTA - Indiana Pacers forward Lance Stephenson had just hit a three-pointer to cut the Atlanta Hawks' lead to four with 7:30 to play in the fourth quarter. He followed it up by forcing a turnover on Atlanta's next possession, but slipped and lost the ball out of bounds. It's been that kind of a stretch for the unraveling Pacers. And the upstart Hawks took full advantage.

Atlanta guard Kyle Korver converted a four-point play after Stephenson's mishandle, swishing a three-pointer and hitting the ensuing free throw, and the Hawks pulled away in the final minutes of a 98-85 win Thursday (Friday, PHL time) in front of inspired crowd at Philips Arena.

The Hawks lead the best-of-seven first-round playoff series, 2-1. Game four is Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) at Philips Arena in Atlanta.

WINNER! Jeff gets 22, Kyle adds 20, and we take a 2-1 series lead with a 98-85 win in front of an INSANE crowd. pic.twitter.com/q3DeYDQmUF

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 25, 2014
 

Atlanta hit 10 of their 12 three-pointers in the second half, none more spectacular than point guard Jeff Teague's runner from in front of his own bench with the shot clock expiring. Teague's triple put the Hawks up 87-78 with 2:48 left.

Korver drained his sixth three-pointer a minute later, the dagger shot that has the Hawks looking to become the sixth No. 8-seed to win their first-round playoff series. Korver finished 20 points, and Teague led all scorers with 22 points.

The Pacers lost again and got subpar performances from their top playmakers. Forward Paul George got in early foul trouble and didn't score in the first half. He finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, but scored just three points in the fourth quarter. Center Roy Hibbert had only four points and two rebounds in 19 minutes of action. He sat out for the majority of second half.



The Pacers trailed only 39-38 at halftime. Atlanta's 30-percent shooting, including 2-for-16 from the three-point line, helped keep Indiana close. However, the Hawks got hot in the third quarter, with forward DeMarre Carroll as the energizer.

The fourth-year forward out of Missouri hit a pair of three-pointers and converted a traditional three-point play to help Atlanta's lead grow to 10. Carroll finished with 18 points.

The Pacers cut into the lead, but Atlanta guard Lou Williams hit a three-pointer to close out third quarter with the Hawks leading 67-58.

Stephenson led the Pacers with 21 points and fueled Indiana's last charge, but Atlanta had an answer, sending Indiana to its ninth loss in its last 11 games in Atlanta. - Reuters



The scores:

HAWKS 98 - Teague 22, Korver 20, Carroll 18, Millsap 14, Williams 11, Scott 5, Brand 4, Mack 3, Antic 1, Muscala 0, Schroder 0

PACERS 85 - Stephenson 21, Scola 17, West 16, George 12, Watson 6, Hibbert 4, Hill 4, Turner 3, Mahinmi 2, Copeland 0

Atlanta    24-15-28-31
Indiana    24-14-20-27