NBA: Alexander-Walker's 9 threes lift Hawks past depleted Pacers, 108-104

Atlanta beat Indiana 108-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday 2 November 2026 in the United States, in front of 16,058 spectators. The Hawks won despite shooting just 39% from the field, thanks to 23 threes on 51 attempts, including 9 of 15 for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 34 points.

The story of the night was a 15-point deficit almost entirely erased by a Pacers side who, according to information published around the game, reportedly fielded only six players. Eight Indiana players were listed as out in the final injury report, including Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac and Obi Toppin, as well as T.J. McConnell, Johnny Furphy and Ben Sheppard. For Atlanta, Henri Veesaar and Mouhamed Gueye were listed as out. The Pacers came into the game at 1-6 or 2-6 depending on the day: in the 3 November standings, they are 2-6 and the Hawks 4-4.

Atlanta pull away, Indiana hang on

The start was even: 17-17 with 6:14 left in the first quarter. Then the Hawks stepped on the gas. An 8-0 run took them from 29-35 to 29-43 in the second quarter, after a first quarter that ended 37-29. Atlanta scored 37 points in that opening period, its best total of the game.

Indiana answered with a 7-0 run (from 36-48 to 43-48, with 6:25 left before half-time), but the Hawks kept control. At the break, the scoreboard read 56-68. The Pacers led only once, by just two points (9-7, with 9:05 left in the first quarter).

Fifteen points down, then back to within two

The biggest gap came early in the third quarter: 73-58 to Atlanta with 9:48 left in the period. Indiana then responded with a 9-0 run (from 68-82 to 77-82, with 2:26 left) and came out of the third quarter at 79-87, having won the period 23-19.

The fourth quarter followed the same script. The Hawks launched an 8-0 run (from 90-93 to 90-101) and led by 11 points with 6:00 left. At 93-104, with 3:56 to play, the game looked settled. The Pacers produced another 9-0 run and cut it to 102-104 with 2:24 to go. They never got in front: the game ended 104-108, with only four lead changes in the entire match.

Players of the match

Alexander-Walker dominated the game: 34 points on 12 of 25 shooting, 9 of 15 from three, 4 assists and 4 steals in 31 minutes, with a plus/minus of +6. Luguentz Dort added 14 points with 4 threes from 6 and a +11, the best plus/minus of the night on his team. Corey Kispert also scored 14 points, including 4 threes in 18 minutes. Onyeka Okongwu made his weight felt in the paint with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

CJ McCollum had a mixed night: 13 points and 12 assists, but only 4-of-17 shooting. His team was +8 during his 32 minutes on the floor. Aaron Wiggins, meanwhile, finished 3 of 12 for 7 points.

For the Pacers, Jay Huff held the fort: 22 points on 8 of 14, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 40 minutes. Braden Smith handed out 10 assists and scored 19 points in 42 minutes, but turned the ball over 5 times, as did Quenton Jackson (20 points, 4 steals). Jackson made just one of his 7 attempts from three and Huff none of his 5. Jarace Walker played 45 minutes for 15 points, with a plus/minus of -11, the worst on the team.

Three takeaways

A game won from range. Indiana made 8 of 34, or 24%.

More assists, more rebounds. Atlanta won the rebounding battle 49 to 39 and dished out 30 assists to Indiana's 22. The Hawks also attempted 103 shots to the Pacers' 80, while the Pacers turned the ball over 19 times to 16.

Indiana made them pay at the line. The Pacers made 20 of 23 free throws, to 5 of 8 for Atlanta. They won the third and fourth quarters (23-19 and 25-21), but their 12-point half-time deficit was too much to make up.

The SNA view

The numbers say Indiana lost this game in one area, the three-point line: 8 threes to 23, a 45-point difference from that one area of the floor. The rest of the box score is tighter than the first-half scoreline suggests, with 38 field goals made for the Pacers to 40 for the Hawks, and 20 free throws to 5 in Indiana's favour. Atlanta shot 103 times for 40 makes, an average return, but made up for it from beyond the arc. The Pacers, with six men who all played between 35 and 45 minutes, kept the ending in doubt. Their comeback from 15 points down to 2 shows resistance on paper, not a win: without shooting from range, the margin remained too thin.

What's next

Atlanta (4-4) are 7th in the Eastern Conference. Indiana (2-6) are 12th. Both teams are on the road again on Thursday 5 November: the Hawks at Washington at 1:00 Brazzaville time, and the Pacers at Memphis at 2:00.