Andrew Nembhard had 26 points (15 in the first quarter) and 10 assists, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-124.
Jarace Walker’s corner 3-pointer put the Pacers ahead for good with 3:45 left in the third quarter.
The Hawks got within 118-117 on Jalen Johnson’s three-point play with 3:48 to play, but Jay Huff answered with a three-point play, and the Hawks got no closer than 125-123. They had the ball down 3 with 7.4 seconds left, but T.J. McConnell stole the ball from Johnson, lifting the Pacers’ chance to win from 92% to 97%. A 3-pointer would have tied the game.
During clutch time, the Pacers outscored the Hawks 14-7. Aaron Nesmith scored 5 of the Pacers’ 14 on 2 for 2 shooting.
Pascal Siakam scored 25 points (20 in the paint) on 11 for 15 shooting, and Nesmith added 23 points on 8 for 10 shooting. The Pacers had 3 20-point scorers.
For the Hawks, Johnson had 33 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals, his 10th career triple-double, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points.
The Pacers shot 53.9% from the field and 46.9% from 3 to the Hawks’ 47.4% and 39.3%. Nembhard fouled out.