Field Level Media
Dec 1, 2021
Trae Young scored 33 points, his fifth straight game with 30-plus, and the visiting Atlanta Hawks defeated the Indiana Pacers 114-111 on Wednesday.
The victory was coach Nate McMillan's 700th career win.
Young was 13-for-27 from the floor, including three 3-pointers, and added 10 assists and eight rebounds.
The Pacers had a chance to take the lead after Young turned the ball over with 9.1 seconds left, but Chris Duarte's layup was blocked by Kevin Huerter with 5.6 seconds remaining. Young grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left.
Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon missed the potential tying shot from halfcourt to end the game.
McMillan became the fourth-winningest active coach even though he was not on the bench. His son, assistant coach Jamelle McMillan, had a positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday and the elder McMillan decided to self-quarantine, even though he tested negative. The head coach said he would not return to the team until receiving a series of negative tests. Chris Jent served as acting head coach.
The Hawks also got 19 points from Huerter and 14 points and four blocks from John Collins.
Indiana was led by Brogdon with 27 points and nine assists and Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Myles Turner returned after missing a game with a non-COVID-related illness and had 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
Atlanta was without Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) and Cam Reddish (wrist) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot got his first start for the Hawks. He hit a 3-pointer on the first possession and scored eight.
The Hawks were 7-for-8 on 3-pointers in the first quarter, including one from Lou Williams at the buzzer, to grab a 38-29 lead. Atlanta had a 65-57 lead at halftime and increased the lead to 12 points in the third before the Pacers went on a 23-6 run to take an 85-80 lead at 1:52. Indiana led 88-87 after three quarters.
Atlanta returns home on Friday to play the Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers play the second game of their six-game homestand on Friday against the Washington Wizards.
--Field Level Media