Game ID: 22300039
Indiana Pacers @ Atlanta Hawks
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ATL 40 46 28 38 152IND 34 39 46 38 157
ATL vs IND ScoutingATL vs IND Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
ATL availability going into 11/11 · 1 day's restOUT Gueye missed 4 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 4 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 5 since 10/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 8 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 11/09 after 3, 1 min since (9% of 15)
BACK Mathews back 11/04 after 5, 4 min since (26% of 15)
ATL availability going into 11/14 · 2 days' restOUT Mathews missed 2 since 11/09, returns tonight: 2 min (11% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 5 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 5 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 6 since 10/30, returns tonight: 13 min (120% of 11)
OUT Mills missed 9 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 11/09 after 3, 1 min since (9% of 15)
ATL availability going into 11/15 · back-to-backOUT Fernando missed 2 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 6 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 6 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 10 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Mathews back 11/04 after 5, 3 min since (21% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 11/14 after 6, 13 min since (120% of 11)
ATL availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Fernando missed 3 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 7 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 7 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 11 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Mathews back 11/14 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 11/14 after 6, 13 min since (120% of 11)
ATL availability going into 11/21 · 3 days' restOUT Fernando missed 4 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Mathews missed 2 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 8 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 8 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 12 since 10/25, out tonight
ATL availability going into 11/22 · back-to-backOUT Fernando missed 5 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Mathews missed 3 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 9 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 9 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 3 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 13 since 10/25, out tonight
ATL availability going into 11/25 · 2 days' restOUT Fernando missed 6 since 11/11, returns tonight: 5 min (32% of 15)
OUT Mathews missed 4 since 11/15, returns tonight: 14 min (96% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 10 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 10 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 4 since 11/15, returns tonight: 9 min (84% of 11)
OUT Mills missed 14 since 10/25, returns tonight: 5 min (46% of 11)
ATL availability going into 11/26 · back-to-backOUT Gueye missed 11 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 11 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 11/25 after 6, 5 min since (32% of 15)
BACK Mathews back 11/25 after 4, 14 min since (96% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 11/25 after 4, 9 min since (84% of 11)
BACK Mills back 11/25 after 14, 5 min since (46% of 11)
ATL availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Gueye missed 12 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 12 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 11/25 after 6, 5 min since (32% of 15)
BACK Mathews back 11/25 after 4, 14 min since (96% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 11/25 after 4, 9 min since (84% of 11)
BACK Mills back 11/25 after 14, 5 min since (46% of 11)
IND availability going into 11/09 · back-to-backBACK Sheppard back 11/01 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Jackson back 11/01 after 2, 17 min since (134% of 13)
BACK Nwora back 11/01 after 2, 15 min since (150% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/12 · 2 days' restOUT McConnell missed 2 since 11/08, returns tonight: 17 min (90% of 19)
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nwora missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Jackson back 11/06 after 2, 13 min since (102% of 13)
IND availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Sheppard missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Nwora missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK McConnell back 11/12 after 2, 17 min since (90% of 19)
BACK Jackson back 11/06 after 2, 13 min since (102% of 13)
IND availability going into 11/19 · 4 days' restOUT Sheppard missed 4 since 11/08, returns tonight: 16 min (105% of 16)
OUT Nwora missed 4 since 11/08, returns tonight: 23 min (230% of 10)
BACK McConnell back 11/12 after 2, 15 min since (80% of 19)
BACK Jackson back 11/06 after 2, 14 min since (114% of 13)
IND availability going into 11/21 · 1 day's restBACK McConnell back 11/12 after 2, 17 min since (91% of 19)
BACK Sheppard back 11/19 after 4, 16 min since (105% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 11/19 after 4, 23 min since (230% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/22 · back-to-backOUT Nembhard missed 2 since 11/19, out tonight
BACK McConnell back 11/12 after 2, 16 min since (86% of 19)
BACK Sheppard back 11/19 after 4, 10 min since (67% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 11/19 after 4, 23 min since (230% of 10)
IND availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Nembhard missed 3 since 11/19, returns tonight: 20 min (75% of 26)
BACK McConnell back 11/12 after 2, 16 min since (84% of 19)
BACK Sheppard back 11/19 after 4, 10 min since (67% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 11/19 after 4, 19 min since (184% of 10)
NEW Toppin 21 to 29 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/27 · 2 days' restOUT Nesmith missed 2 since 11/22, returns tonight: 25 min (89% of 29)
BACK Nembhard back 11/24 after 3, 20 min since (75% of 26)
BACK Sheppard back 11/19 after 4, 7 min since (46% of 16)
BACK Nwora back 11/19 after 4, 19 min since (184% of 10)
NEW Toppin 21 to 29 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 11/30 · 2 days' restOUT Nwora missed 2 since 11/24, out tonight
BACK Nesmith back 11/27 after 2, 25 min since (89% of 29)
BACK Nembhard back 11/24 after 3, 21 min since (78% of 26)
BACK Sheppard back 11/19 after 4, 6 min since (36% of 16)
NEW Toppin 21 to 26 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Murray at 19 a game. Without Fernando (4 straight), Mathews (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 127, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Haliburton at 23 and Turner at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 12 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 120 a night to Indiana's 127. Call it Atlanta 123, Indiana 121, Indiana keeping it close.
11/11 vs MIA 109-117 — ATL notes
ATL lost 109-117. ATL shot 44% (38 of 87) to MIA's 49%, 18 of 46 from three, and got to the line 18 times to MIA's 25. ATL turned it over 21 times to MIA's 15, and MIA turned those into 10 steals. Young led with 27 (7 of 19, 3 of 9 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Murray added 23, Bogdanović 15. Q2 was theirs, 28-22, the deficit cut from 17 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 95-81 against them. Okongwu's -15 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/14 @ DET 126-120 — ATL notes
ATL won 126-120. ATL shot 52% (45 of 87) to DET's 52%, 12 of 33 from three. Murray led with 32 (11 of 21, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Bey added 19, Bogdanović 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-29: from level to 9 ahead.
11/15 vs NYK 114-116 — ATL notes
ATL lost 114-116. ATL shot 55% (41 of 75) to NYK's 48%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NYK's 11 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 30-42 against them. Bogdanović led with 28 (8 of 15, 4 of 11 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Johnson added 18, Bey 16. Q2 was theirs, 34-24, the deficit cut from 11 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 92-80 against them. Capela's -21 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/17 vs PHI 116-126 — ATL notes
ATL lost 116-126. ATL shot 45% (40 of 89) to PHI's 49%, 12 of 33 from three. Young led with 22 (5 of 14, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Johnson added 18, Bey 17. Q2 was theirs, 32-27, the deficit cut from 6 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 99-84 against them. Murray's -18 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/21 vs IND 152-157 — ATL notes
ATL lost 152-157. ATL shot 60% (57 of 95) to IND's 61%, 15 of 31 from three. The glass went 39-29 for them. Young led with 38 (13 of 17, 5 of 8 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Murray added 28, Bogdanović 26. Q2 was theirs, 46-39, but the other 3 periods went 118-106 against them. They led by as many as 20. Hunter's -11 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 127, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Fernando (5 straight), Mathews (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Bridges at 20 and Walker IV at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Thomas (5 straight), Simmons (6 straight), Clowney (13 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 112 a night to Atlanta's 127 and the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-7 a night and Atlanta plus-0. Call it Atlanta 119, Brooklyn 117, Brooklyn keeping it close.
11/25 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 128, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 133, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Fernando (6 straight), Mathews (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-10 and the line, where Atlanta takes 28 free throws a game to Washington's 18. Call it Atlanta 126, Washington 123, Washington keeping it close.
11/26 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 130, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; Young at 29 and Bogdanović at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the arc, Atlanta at 41 percent from three to Boston's 34. Call it Boston 121, Atlanta 117, Atlanta keeping it close.
11/28 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Allen at 17 a game. Without Wade (3 straight), Merrill (2 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 130, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Young at 32 and Bogdanović at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 116 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the line, where Atlanta takes 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 19. Call it Cleveland 120, Atlanta 119, Atlanta keeping it close.
11/09 vs MIL 126-124 — IND notes
IND won 126-124. IND shot 48% (44 of 92) to MIL's 53%, 20 of 48 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MIL's 26. Haliburton led with 29 (10 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Mathurin added 26, Turner 21. The hinge was Q1, 38-24: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
11/12 @ PHI 126-137 — IND notes
IND lost 126-137. IND shot 52% (47 of 90) to PHI's 50%, 16 of 39 from three. The glass went 32-54 against them. Haliburton led with 25 (9 of 14, 3 of 6 from three); Turner added 22, Hield 16. Q3 was theirs, 39-31, the deficit cut from 9 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 106-87 against them. Mathurin's -24 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/14 @ PHI 132-126 — IND notes
IND won 132-126. IND shot 52% (48 of 93) to PHI's 50%, 13 of 37 from three. IND turned it over 11 times to PHI's 16. Haliburton led with 33 (11 of 18, 7 of 12 from three); Toppin added 27, Turner 17. The hinge was Q1, 36-30: from level to 6 ahead. Haliburton was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
11/19 vs ORL 116-128 — IND notes
IND lost 116-128. IND took 8 more shots (95 to 87), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to ORL's 49%, 8 of 31 from three, and got to the line 31 times to ORL's 42. Nwora led with 19 (8 of 11, 2 of 5 from three); Mathurin added 14, Haliburton 12. Q4 was theirs, 38-21, the deficit cut from 29 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 107-78 against them. Haliburton's -30 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/21 @ ATL 157-152 — IND notes
IND won 157-152. IND shot 61% (57 of 94) to ATL's 60%, 22 of 45 from three. The glass went 29-39 against them. Haliburton led with 37 (11 of 18, 9 of 15 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Hield added 24, Toppin 21. The hinge was Q3, 46-28: IND came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 5. IND trailed 73-86 at the half and won the second half 84-66. Hield was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
11/22 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 133, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Haliburton at 27 and Turner at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Nembhard (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Barnes at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Freeman-Liberty (12 straight), Young (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-5 a night and Indiana minus-6 and the defense, Toronto allowing 116 a night to Indiana's 133. Call it Indiana 123, Toronto 120, Toronto keeping it close.
11/24 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 132 a night and allowing 135, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Haliburton at 28 and Toppin at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Nembhard (3 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Cunningham at 17 and Bagley III at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Duren (5 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-3 a night and Indiana minus-9 and the defense, Detroit allowing 120 a night to Indiana's 135. Call it Indiana 126, Detroit 118.
11/27 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 130, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Haliburton at 28 and Toppin at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Nesmith (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Grant at 23 and Brogdon at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Simons (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 115 a night to Indiana's 130 and the line, where Indiana takes 26 free throws a game to Portland's 19. Call it Indiana 125, Portland 113, Indiana by 12.
11/30 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Adebayo at 25 and Jaquez Jr. at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Butler III (2 straight), Herro (10 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 128, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Haliburton at 28 and Hield at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 128 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-0 a night and Indiana minus-5. Call it Miami 120, Indiana 118, Indiana keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
INDAN A. Nesmith
BB B. Brown
BH B. Hield
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
IJ I. Jackson
JS J. Smith
MT M. Turner
OT O. Toppin
TH T. Haliburton
TM T. McConnell
ATLBB B. Bogdanović
CC C. Capela
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Murray
JJ J. Johnson
OO O. Okongwu
SB S. Bey
TY T. Young
WM W. Matthews
IND/ATL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Haliburton scores 37 as Pacers beat Hawks to clinch quarterfinal berth in In-Season Tournament
ATLANTA -- — Tyrese Haliburton had 37 points and 16 assists, Buddy Hield hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer in the final minute and the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 157-152 on Tuesday night to clinch a spot in the NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals.
In the highest-scoring NBA game this season, Hield's jumper from the left wing broke a 152-all tie with 52 seconds left. Dejounte Murray was called for an offensive foul on a 3-point attempt on Atlanta's next possession, then missed a difficult layup following an Indiana turnover with eight seconds remaining.
Hield made a layup at the buzzer.
“It is exciting,” Haliburton said of advancing to the quarterfinals. “We are the first team to clinch and we are ready to go. We have a few more games before the quarterfinals, so we want to take care of what is in front of us first, but we want to win the championship, of course. It would be awesome.”
The Pacers are 3-0 in East Group A with one game left in group play. The Hawks dropped to 1-2. The quarterfinals will be held Dec. 4-5.
Hield had 24 points and Obi Toppin scored 21 off the bench as the Pacers set an NBA season high for points. Bennedict Mathurin added 19, including a buzzer-beating shot to close the third quarter.
Haliburton leads the league in assists.
“Tyrese, you just run out of accolades,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “Fearless, leader, great competitor — so happy for him.”
Trae Young led the Hawks with 38 points and eight assists. Murray scored 28, and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 26 on 10-for-15 shooting.
“Tough game,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder. “All losses are tough, but I thought we competed.”
The Pacers have not reached the NBA playoffs since the 2019-20 season, so having an opportunity to advance in the first year of the in-season tournament has been a focal point for the team.
“This essentially is a playoff environment,” Carlisle said. “Atlanta was playing for a lot, too. The in-season tournament is getting a lot of buzz. ... This is a real thing. Hats off to the people in New York for coming up with something that, at least to this point, is strong.”
Both teams entered ranked in the top five in points per game and the bottom five in points allowed per game, setting up a high-scoring affair. The first half did not disappoint, as the Hawks set a franchise record with 86 points and led 86-73 at the break.
“We were not giving nearly enough resistance defensively (in the first half),” Carlisle said. “We challenged ourselves to pick it up and be defiant with our attitude and give ourselves a chance.”
Atlanta led by 20 in the second quarter but the Pacers came all the way back and tied it at 107 when Haliburton hit a 3 with just under four minutes remaining in the third. Haliburton scored 26 points in the period, and Indiana led 119-114 entering the fourth.
The Pacers shot 60.6% from the floor and 48.9% from 3-point range, while the Hawks shot 59.4% overall and 48.4% from deep.
“This is a classic regular-season game,” Carlisle said. “It had to be really fun to watch for fans.”
The Pacers shook up their starting lineup, inserting Hield and Aaron Nesmith in place of Toppin and Mathurin.