INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Dwight Howard had 23 points and 20 rebounds to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Indiana Pacers 96-85 on Wednesday night.
Paul Millsap added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks.
Indiana rallied to cut Atlanta's lead to a point with 3:42 left in the third quarter, but the Hawks pulled away with a 19-2 run. The Pacers failed to make a basket in the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Thaddeus Young led the Pacers with 24 points and had seven rebounds. Monta Ellis added 19 points, and Paul George had 18.
The Hawks led by as many as 17 points in the first half, and Indiana clawed back and pulled within five points at halftime. Atlanta led by 13 in the third quarter, but Indiana once again battled back, pulling within one point after Monta Ellis grabbed a rebound and went coast-to-coast for a layup with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
The Hawks outrebounded Indiana 56 to 37, and outscored the Pacers 48 to 34 in the paint, and 19 to 11 in second chance points. Indiana had just seven offensive rebounds.
AN IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY:
The Pacers are third in the NBA in turnovers created, forcing their opponents into 16.2 mistakes per game, ranking fourth with an average of 9.2 steals per game. On Wednesday night, the Hawks turned the ball over 21 times, and of those 15 were the result of an Indiana steal.
LOCKED UP:
The Hawks are second in the NBA in fourth quarter defense, allowing opponents 21.8 points per game in the fourth quarter. On Wednesday night, the Hawks held Indiana to 19 points. It was the eighth time this season Atlanta has held it opponent to fewer than 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Hawks are 6-2 when achieving this milestone.
TIP INS:
Indiana: Jeff Teague has scored in double figures in each of the last nine games. ... Young's 24-point effort was just the second time this season he has scored 20 points or more.
Atlanta: The victory was the Hawks' 100th over Indiana ... The Hawks have held at least a 10-point lead in 12 games this season and have six double-digit wins.
UP NEXT:
Indiana: Hosts Brooklyn on Friday.
Atlanta: At Utah on Friday.
