Jan 28, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers ahead Pascal Siakam (43) shoots the ball whereas Chicago Bulls middle Nikola Vucevic (9) defends within the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photos The Indiana Pacers have gained simply 12 of their first 48 video games, however sometimes they provide glimpses of the group that reached the NBA finals final season.
The injury-plagued Pacers look to construct on an encouraging victory after they face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Indiana rallied for a 113-110 dwelling win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, whereas Atlanta had its four-game successful streak snapped in a 104-86 dwelling loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 factors and Andrew Nembhard added 18 within the Pacers’ win over Chicago. Indiana trailed by 14 factors with 7:14 left within the contest earlier than storming again to win for the second time in its final three video games.
Siakam has scored no less than 20 factors in eight straight video games for the Pacers, who’ve used a league-high 25 totally different beginning lineup mixtures this season.
The group’s prolonged damage record contains level guard Tyrese Haliburton, who’s out for the season with an Achilles tear suffered in final season’s Recreation 7 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the NBA Finals.
“We perceive that we’re in a unique place and a unique place,” Siakam stated. “However I simply really feel like regardless of all of the adversity that we have been by way of and all the things that is occurred, we simply should hold it going.
“We won’t take into consideration our document. We won’t take into consideration something. We simply should hold specializing in how we will enhance and never lose our id, who we’re. Irrespective of who’s on the market, we have now an id, and that is gotta stick.”
Indiana is seeking to keep away from a season sweep after dropping its first two conferences in opposition to Atlanta. The Hawks posted a 128-108 street victory on Oct. 31 earlier than successful 132-116 at dwelling on Jan. 26.
Atlanta will likely be with out middle Onyeka Okongwu for the second straight sport after the middle suffered a dental fracture in Wednesday’s win over the Boston Celtics.
The Hawks are additionally monitoring the standing of main scorer Jalen Johnson, who sat out Thursday’s sport in opposition to Houston with left calf tightness. He’s listed as questionable.
With each Okongwu and Johnson sidelined in opposition to the Rockets, Atlanta pale within the second half and trailed by as many as 22 within the fourth quarter.
“Not having Jalen and ‘O’ is substantial,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder stated. “Their capacity to create benefits is one thing that we depend on defensively. That stated, once we did get into the paint, we have been attempting to problem.”
CJ McCollum scored 23 factors to steer Atlanta within the loss. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 and Corey Kispert had 17. McCollum has scored no less than 20 factors in three of his final 4 video games.
Christian Koloko began rather than Okongwu and recorded six factors, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in practically 26 minutes.
After averaging 120.8 factors and 17.3 3-pointers throughout their four-game successful streak, the Hawks have been held to 36.6% capturing and 12 3-pointers within the loss to Houston.
“(The Rockets) are a wonderful defensive group, however I believe there have been some issues that we have been doing that we did not do,” Snyder stated.
–Area Stage Media
