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Daily NBA Fix 4-23-14: We’re All (Almost) Even

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 22, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after being called for a foul during the second half in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at United Center. Washington Wizards defeats the Chicago Bulls 101-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after being called for a foul during the second half in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at United Center. Washington Wizards defeats the Chicago Bulls 101-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Game Capsules

Daily NBA Fix
Apr 22, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) high fives forward Paul George (24) as he comes out of the game against the Atlanta Hawks in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Atlanta 101-85. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

INDIANA PACERS 101, Atlanta Hawks 85

Picking Up The Pace – The mood in Indiana after the first quarter was pretty grim. Hell, the mood in Indiana has been pretty grim for months now, but when the Hawks surged to an early five-point lead against these Pacers that many were hoping would come flying out of the gate, that dreaded idea no one wanted to acknowledge in the back of our minds started to creep closer to reality. What if the Hawks are actually the better team right now? What if this No. 1 seed, a team that everyone though was the only competition for the Miami Heat in the East, drops Game 2 at home and loses this series? Or worse, gets swept?

Those questions started to get louder when Indiana didn’t perform much better in the second quarter and trailed by four at halftime. It not only looked like Frank Vogel’s team could be beaten in this series, but that they should be beaten. But then the Third Quarter War Lord Indiana Pacers finally returned and reminded us what it’s like to watch them play good basketball. By outscoring Atlanta 31-13 in the period and putting together a 19-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters, Indiana finally breathed life into a fan base and a team that desperately needed it.

Paul George was the hero, filling the stat sheet with 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, 4 steals and one block, not to mention a huge three right before the third quarter buzzer that put the Pacers up 14 and inspired hope in Indiana’s crowd for the first time in weeks. This is not an exaggeration: that shot could be the turning point of this series. Guys were high fiving, Roy Hibbert was shoving people in joy and the fans were finally given reason to believe this team is actually capable of winning a playoff series.

George also had a hand in guarding Jeff Teague all night, holding him to just 14 points. Luis Scola had 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench and looked better than he has since ‘Nam. George Hill was aggressive on offense for the first time in months, scoring 15 points and getting to the line a team-high six times. The Hawks were led by 19 points from Paul Millsap, but Atlanta shot just 10-of-29 from three-point range and missed a lot of the same decent looks they capitalized on in Game 1. You can’t really expect to win a playoff game on the road when you go scoreless for six and a half minutes and shoot 25 percent in the third quarter, especially against a team that thrives in aforementioned third quarter.

This is still very much a series. Paul Millsap and Pero Antic are tough defensive matchups for Hibbert and will continue to knock down open looks as long as Vogel allows his All-Star center to be exploited. The Hawks got the one road victory they needed to steal home court advantage and the Pacers have lost 13 of their last 15 games in Atlanta (including the postseason) dating back to the 2007-08 season. Indiana had better bring that same energy or the Pacers are still in danger of going home early.

Series Tied, 1-1