C.J. McCollum scored 23 points to lead a dominant second-half surge as the Atlanta Hawks rallied past the Indiana Pacers 132-116 on Monday afternoon.
Atlanta erased a double-digit deficit by ripping off a 17-0 run that flipped the game and carried into the fourth quarter, earning the Hawks their third consecutive victory. Dyson Daniels added 22 points and nine assists, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 21 points. Luke Kennard’s corner 3-pointer capped the decisive run and put Atlanta ahead 102-92.
The Pacers appeared in control midway through the third quarter, building a 15-point lead and holding a 92-85 advantage late in the period before Atlanta’s momentum-shifting burst. Indiana couldn’t recover once the Hawks seized control.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 26 points, while Aaron Nesmith scored 18. Bennedict Mathurin returned from a thumb injury and added 16 points, as did T.J. McConnell.
Tipoff was moved from Monday night to early afternoon due to concerns over icy road conditions caused by a winter storm affecting parts of the South and Northeast.
Atlanta played without Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and rookie Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone contusion), each missing his ninth straight game. Porzingis is expected to be re-evaluated in about a week, while Risacher could return as soon as the Hawks’ next game.
Christian Koloko helped fill the void, scoring a career-high 12 points off the bench and blocking three shots. Jalen Johnson added 15 points despite shooting 5 of 19 from the field. McCollum also chipped in eight rebounds and seven assists and opened the game by hitting his first five attempts from beyond the arc.
Up next:
The Pacers return home to host Chicago on Wednesday night before a rematch with Atlanta on Saturday. The Hawks head to Boston on Wednesday night.
