Turnovers Doom Pacers, Hawks Prevail 120-109

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap

I do not care what NBA team you are – any time you commit 25 turnovers, chances are that you probably will not win most nights. In the season opening game pitting the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, there were 34 turnovers.

The problem with the number of turnovers is that the vast majority of them were committed by the Pacers – 25 of them to be exact. That plus 52.9% shooting spelled Indiana’s doom as Atlanta pulled away in the fourth quarter and securing the win, 120-109, at Philips Arena.

The first quarter was a track meet of sorts as both teams short well north of 50%; Danny Granger’s 14 points helped Indiana take a 32-29 lead going into the second quarter. The second period was a scorefest as both teams combined for 70 points; at the 2:00 mark of the first half, Maurice Evans’ layup gave the Hawks their first lead of the game at 61-60. Atlanta would go into halftime with a slim 66-65 lead.

The third quarter was one of attrition as both teams shot well, with both scoring 29 points each, with Solomon Jones making a key shot with 6 seconds left in the period and narrowing Indiana’s deficit to one at 95-91 with one quarter to go.

Apparently both teams were gassed as the scoring dropped off markedly. Earl Watson drained a three-pointer with 9:03 left in the game, allowing Indiana to retake the lead at 101-100; the Hawks sealed the deal and pulled away with the win at the 5:22 mark as Joe Johnson made a layup.

Six Hawks scored in double-figures, led by Joe Johnson as he scored 25 points with 6 assists and 4 steals while Al Horford added 24 with 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks; Josh Smith chipped in 18 with 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks.

Granger led all Pacers scorers with 31 points (including five 3-pointers), along with 4 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block while Watson came off the bench to add 20 (including 3 treys) with a rebound and an assist; Dahntay Jones made a good impression as he provided 17 with 5 rebounds but committed a team-high 6 turnovers.

Atlanta (1-0) will play again on Friday when they host the Washingtonj Wizards while Indiana (0-1) returns home for their home opener as they host the Miami Heat – also on Friday night.

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