This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Indianapolis • Atlanta's Mike Scott hit Indiana with the first 3-point barrage Monday night.
The Hawks' defense staggered the Pacers with some late stops.
Now Atlanta is heading home with a chance to deliver the knockout punch to the Eastern Conference's top seed.
Scott scored all 17 of his points during the Hawks' incredible second-quarter run, and the defense fended off the Pacers' frantic fourth-quarter charge to hold on for a 107-97 victory and a stunning 3-2 lead in the first-round series.
"We can play with this team," Scott said. "They're a great team, especially at home, great players, great coach, but we have a belief in ourselves as well."
Why not?
All the Hawks have to do is protect their home court and they will reach the second round for the first time since 2011, and throw the East into disarray after the talk all season was about an Indiana-Miami rematch in the conference finals.
That looks like a long shot now. The Pacers haven't won consecutive games with their regular starters in the lineup since mid-March and the league's best regular-season home team (35-6) has inexplicably given away home court advantage to the Hawks — twice. They're making it look easy, too.
Atlanta shredded one of the league's top defenses during a remarkable second quarter, making 13 of 16 shots overall and 9 of 11 from beyond the arc. Scott made all five of his 3s during the decisive 30-6 run, which actually started with the final basket of the first quarter, to turn a 21-18 deficit into a 48-27 lead.
Atlanta outscored the Pacers 41-19 during that 12-minute stretch, matching the second-highest second-quarter scoring total in the franchise's postseason history. The Hawks scored 41 against Detroit on March 17, 1986, and the St. Louis Hawks had 45 against Fort Wayne on March 14, 1957.
Indiana never recovered, and eventually trailed by 30 points. —
Hawks 107, Pacers 97
Atlanta 20 41 26 20 — 107
Indiana 21 19 27 30 — 97
ATLANTA (107)
Carroll 6-9 1-1 15, Millsap 5-11 8-12 18, Antic 0-3 1-2 1, Teague 3-8 5-5 12, Korver 5-10 1-1 16, Brand 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 3-7 2-2 8, Mack 5-9 8-10 20, Scott 6-9 0-0 17.
Totals 33-66 26-33 107.
INDIANA (97)
George 9-16 4-4 26, West 6-13 4-8 16, Hibbert 0-2 0-0 0, G.Hill 6-12 1-2 16, Stephenson 6-14 2-4 16, Mahinmi 0-1 0-0 0, Turner 0-1 0-0 0, Watson 6-10 0-0 15, Scola 1-2 0-0 2, Copeland 2-7 0-0 6.
Totals 36-78 11-18 97.
3-Point Goals—Atlanta 15-27 (Scott 5-6, Korver 5-10, Carroll 2-2, Mack 2-4, Teague 1-3, Williams 0-1, Antic 0-1), Indiana 14-30 (George 4-7, Watson 3-4, G.Hill 3-7, Stephenson 2-5, Copeland 2-6, Turner 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 46 (Korver 9), Indiana 43 (George 12). Assists—Atlanta 19 (Mack 5), Indiana 24 (West 7). Total Fouls—Atlanta 19, Indiana 24. Technicals—Stephenson, Indiana Coach Vogel. A—18,165 (18,165).