Game ID: 22500698
Atlanta Hawks @ Indiana Pacers
Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
IND 35 45 23 26 129ATL 39 34 27 24 124
ATL @ IND ScoutingATL @ 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.
IND availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 9 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 41 since 10/29, out tonight
BACK Isa. Jackson back 1/17 after 13, 12 min since (71% of 17)
BACK Peter back 1/17 after 7, 17 min since (128% of 13)
IND availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 10 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 2 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 42 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 2 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Isa. Jackson back 1/17 after 13, 11 min since (66% of 17)
IND availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Mathurin missed 11 since 1/04, returns tonight: 25 min (78% of 32)
OUT Thompson missed 3 since 1/19, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 20)
OUT Toppin missed 43 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 3 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Isa. Jackson back 1/17 after 13, 10 min since (59% of 17)
NEW Furphy 18 to 25 min over the last 5
IND availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 44 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 4 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Bradley missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 1/26 after 11, 25 min since (78% of 32)
BACK Thompson back 1/26 after 3, 1 min since (7% of 20)
BACK Isa. Jackson back 1/17 after 13, 10 min since (62% of 17)
IND availability going into 1/31 · 2 days' restOUT Toppin missed 45 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 5 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Bradley missed 3 since 1/23, not on tonight's roster
BACK Mathurin back 1/26 after 11, 27 min since (84% of 32)
BACK Thompson back 1/26 after 3, 1 min since (7% of 20)
IND availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Que. Jackson missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Toppin missed 46 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Peter missed 6 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 1/26 after 11, 28 min since (89% of 32)
IND availability going into 2/03 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 3 since 1/28, returns tonight: 19 min (95% of 20)
OUT Que. Jackson missed 3 since 1/28, returns tonight: 17 min (95% of 18)
OUT Toppin missed 47 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 3 since 1/28, returns tonight: 36 min (215% of 17)
OUT Peter missed 7 since 1/19, returns tonight: 30 min (231% of 13)
BACK Mathurin back 1/26 after 11, 30 min since (94% of 32)
IND availability going into 2/06 · 2 days' restOUT Toppin missed 48 since 10/29, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 1/26 after 11, 30 min since (94% of 32)
BACK Thompson back 1/26 after 3, 10 min since (51% of 20)
BACK Que. Jackson back 2/03 after 3, 17 min since (95% of 18)
BACK Jones back 2/03 after 3, 36 min since (215% of 17)
BACK Peter back 2/03 after 7, 30 min since (231% of 13)
IND availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Toppin missed 49 since 10/29, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 2/03 after 3, 19 min since (95% of 20)
BACK Que. Jackson back 2/03 after 3, 17 min since (95% of 18)
BACK Jones back 2/03 after 3, 24 min since (146% of 17)
BACK Peter back 2/03 after 7, 30 min since (231% of 13)
ATL availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 7 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 2 since 1/19, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Risacher missed 8 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 3 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 9 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 4 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 3 since 1/21, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backOUT Risacher missed 10 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 5 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 4 since 1/21, returns tonight: 20 min (183% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 11 since 1/09, returns tonight: 22 min (99% of 22)
OUT Dennis missed 6 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 20 min since (183% of 11)
ATL availability going into 2/03 · 2 days' restOUT Okongwu missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 7 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Risacher back 1/31 after 11, 22 min since (99% of 22)
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 20 min since (183% of 11)
NEW Koloko 11 to 17 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Okongwu missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 8 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Risacher back 1/31 after 11, 22 min since (102% of 22)
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 18 min since (166% of 11)
NEW Kispert 17 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Gueye 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Koloko 11 to 16 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Okongwu missed 4 since 1/29, returns tonight: 31 min (99% of 31)
OUT Dennis missed 9 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Risacher back 1/31 after 11, 21 min since (97% of 22)
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 18 min since (160% of 11)
NEW Kispert 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Gueye 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Koloko 11 to 16 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 10 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Okongwu back 2/07 after 4, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Risacher back 1/31 after 11, 22 min since (100% of 22)
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 15 min since (139% of 11)
NEW Kispert 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gueye 15 to 21 min over the last 4
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 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 25 and Nembhard at 17 a game. Without Toppin (45 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 15 free throws a game; Johnson at 22 and McCollum at 19 a game. Without Risacher (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 35 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 110 a night to Indiana's 118. Call it Atlanta 115, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
1/21 @ BOS 104-119 — IND notes
IND lost 104-119. IND shot 39% (37 of 94) to BOS's 48%, 12 of 45 from three. The glass went 42-54 against them. Siakam led with 32 (12 of 21, 4 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Walker added 19, Furphy 10. Q3 was theirs, 32-25, the deficit cut from 20 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 94-72 against them. Nesmith's -28 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/23 @ OKC 117-114 — IND notes
IND won 117-114. IND shot 47% (45 of 96) to OKC's 49%, 16 of 38 from three, and got to the line 20 times to OKC's 30. The glass went 51-41 for them. Nembhard led with 27 (10 of 16, 4 of 7 from three); Walker added 26, Siakam 21. The hinge was Q1, 39-28: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Nembhard was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/26 @ ATL 116-132 — IND notes
IND lost 116-132. IND shot 46% (43 of 93) to ATL's 50%, 10 of 35 from three, and went to the line 25 times to ATL's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 16. Siakam led with 26 (8 of 21, 2 of 9 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Nesmith added 18, Mathurin 16. Q1 was theirs, 38-34, but the other 3 periods went 98-78 against them. They led by as many as 15.
1/28 vs CHI 113-110 — IND notes
IND won 113-110. IND shot 45% (38 of 85) to CHI's 48%, 15 of 36 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CHI's 18 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. IND turned it over 6 times to CHI's 11. Siakam led with 20 (6 of 16, 1 of 5 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Nembhard added 18, Walker 16. The hinge was Q4, 37-25: IND came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 3. IND trailed 49-53 at the half and won the second half 64-57. Nesmith was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/31 vs ATL 129-124 — IND notes
IND won 129-124. IND shot 54% (48 of 89) to ATL's 47%, 15 of 32 from three, and got to the line 21 times to ATL's 28. IND turned it over 23 times to ATL's 10, and ATL turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 51-39 for them. Nembhard led with 26 (9 of 19, 5 of 9 from three); Siakam added 25, Nesmith 23. The hinge was Q2, 45-34: IND came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 7. Mathurin was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/02 vs HOU — 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 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 25 and Nembhard at 17 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Que. Jackson (2 straight), Toppin (46 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 101, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 101 a night to Indiana's 120 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Indiana plus-0. Call it Houston 114, Indiana 111, Indiana keeping it close.
2/03 vs UTA — 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 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nesmith at 18 a game. Without Thompson (3 straight), Que. Jackson (3 straight), Toppin (47 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 21 and Markkanen at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kessler (45 straight), Harkless (36 straight), Tshiebwe (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 41 percent from three to Utah's 32 and the glass, where Indiana has been minus-2 a night and Utah minus-7. Call it Indiana 120, Utah 116, Utah keeping it close.
2/06 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 15 free throws a game; Rollins at 23 and Kuzma at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (5 straight), Portis (2 straight), Prince (41 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nesmith at 18 a game. Without Toppin (48 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where Indiana takes 24 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 15. Call it Milwaukee 118, Indiana 116, Indiana keeping it close.
2/08 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ingram at 28 and Barnes at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Poeltl (23 straight). 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Nembhard at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Toppin (49 straight). One day's rest.
So: Toronto wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Toronto 117, Indiana 113, Indiana keeping it close.
1/23 vs PHX 110-103 — ATL notes
ATL won 110-103. ATL shot 53% (43 of 81) to PHX's 44%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 16 times to PHX's 9 — 11 points from the stripe to their 8. ATL turned it over 21 times to PHX's 12, and PHX turned those into 15 steals. Okongwu led with 25 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Johnson added 23, McCollum 21. The hinge was Q4, 26-12: ATL came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 7. Daniels was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/26 vs IND 132-116 — ATL notes
ATL won 132-116. ATL shot 50% (49 of 98) to IND's 46%, 18 of 43 from three, and got to the line 17 times to IND's 25. McCollum led with 23 (9 of 15, 5 of 7 from three); Daniels added 22, Alexander-Walker 21. The hinge was Q4, 37-24: a lead of 3 became 16. ATL trailed 60-64 at the half and won the second half 72-52. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/28 @ BOS 117-106 — ATL notes
ATL won 117-106. ATL shot 48% (45 of 93) to BOS's 47%, 18 of 42 from three. ATL turned it over 9 times to BOS's 16. The glass went 38-51 against them. Alexander-Walker led with 21 (7 of 15, 5 of 12 from three); Johnson added 19, Okongwu 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-18: from level to 20 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Johnson was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/29 vs HOU 86-104 — ATL notes
ATL lost 86-104. ATL shot 37% (34 of 93) to HOU's 42%, 12 of 39 from three, and got to the line 7 times to HOU's 20. The glass went 46-59 against them. McCollum led with 23 (9 of 19, 5 of 11 from three); Alexander-Walker added 20, Kispert 17. Q1 was theirs, 23-23, but the other 3 periods went 81-63 against them. Alexander-Walker's -26 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 @ IND 124-129 — ATL notes
ATL lost 124-129. ATL took 8 more shots (97 to 89), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to IND's 54%, 11 of 28 from three, and went to the line 28 times to IND's 21 — 21 points from the stripe to their 18. ATL turned it over 10 times to IND's 23. The glass went 39-51 against them. Johnson led with 33 (12 of 29, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Alexander-Walker added 21, McCollum 18. Q1 was theirs, 39-35, but the other 3 periods went 94-85 against them. McCollum's -11 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/03 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Powell at 20 a game. Without Herro (10 straight), Powell (2 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Johnson at 22 and McCollum at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Okongwu (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-6 and the arc, Atlanta at 40 percent from three to Miami's 33. Call it Miami 119, Atlanta 114.
2/05 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Johnson at 24 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Okongwu (3 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Sensabaugh at 15 a game. Without George (2 straight), Kessler (46 straight), Harkless (37 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 25 free throws a game to Atlanta's 16 and the glass, where Utah has been minus-1 a night and Atlanta minus-8. Call it Atlanta 121, Utah 115.
2/07 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Alexander-Walker at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Okongwu (4 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Miller at 20 and Ball at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hall (14 straight), Salaün (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-11 a night and Atlanta minus-9 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 104 a night to Atlanta's 115. Call it Atlanta 115, Charlotte 114, Charlotte keeping it close.
2/09 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 21 a game. Without Conley (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Johnson at 29 and Alexander-Walker at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-10 and the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Atlanta's 18. Call it Minnesota 119, Atlanta 117, Atlanta keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ATLCK C. Kispert
CK C. Koloko
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
JJ J. Johnson
LK L. Kennard
MG M. Gueye
NA N. Alexander-Walker
ZR Z. Risacher
INDAN A. Nembhard
AN A. Nesmith
BM B. Mathurin
BS B. Sheppard
IJ I. Jackson
JF J. Furphy
JH J. Huff
JW J. Walker
PS P. Siakam
TM T. McConnell
ATL/IND 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
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Andrew Nembhard scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 25 and the Indiana Pacers held off the Atlanta Hawks 129-124 on Saturday night.
Indiana nursed a single-digit lead for much of the third quarter and led 103-100 entering the fourth. It was tight the rest of the way before Siakam hit a crucial 12-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds remaining to push the Pacers ahead 127-123.
Aaron Nesmith added 23 points, Nembhard had 10 assists and Siakam shot 11 of 15 from the field. The Pacers won despite 23 turnovers.
Atlanta dropped its second straight game despite Jalen Johnson 's eighth triple-double of the season. The forward finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points.
The Pacers have won seven of their past 12 games, enjoying a solid stretch of basketball after starting the season with a 6-31 record. Indiana has played all year without star guard Tyrese Haliburton , who tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season.
Indiana jumped to an 80-73 lead by halftime, spurred by a 45-point second quarter. Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points before the break while Nembhard also had 21 for the Pacers.
It was Indiana's highest scoring half of the season. The Pacers shot 58% from the field, including 11 of 20 (55%) 3-pointers.