INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Andrew Nembhard scored 26 points and Pascal Siakam added 25 as the Indiana Pacers outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 129-124 on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers, who committed 23 turnovers, used a 45-point second quarter to build a lead and held on late. Siakam hit a crucial 12-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds remaining to seal the win after the Hawks had closed within a point. Aaron Nesmith contributed 23 points for Indiana. Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. The Pacers shot 53.9% from the field and made 15 3-pointers to overcome their ball-handling mistakes and snap a two-game skid in the season series. Attendance was 17,010.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a chaotic, turnover-filled affair that defied both pregame projections and conventional efficiency, the Indiana Pacers outlasted the Atlanta Hawks 129-124 on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The victory, secured before a crowd of 17,010, snapped a two-game head-to-head losing streak to Atlanta and improved the Pacers’ record to 13-36, while the Hawks fell to 24-27. The game’s defining characteristic was a staggering disparity in ball security. Indiana committed 23 turnovers, a number that typically spells defeat, but offset that profligacy with scorching shooting. The Pacers connected on 48 of 89 field goal attempts, a 53.9% clip, and were even more potent from beyond the arc, hitting 15 of 32 three-pointers. Atlanta, by contrast, turned the ball over only 10 times and forced 11 steals but could not match Indiana’s offensive firepower, shooting 46 of 98 from the floor. The contest unfolded in distinct acts. The first half was an offensive showcase, with Atlanta posting 39 points in the opening quarter and Indiana responding with a 45-point explosion in the second. The Pacers’ second-quarter barrage, fueled by Andrew Nembhard’s playmaking and Jay Huff’s outside shooting, transformed a 39-35 Atlanta lead after one period into an 80-73 Indiana advantage at halftime. The pace slowed and the game tightened after the break. The Hawks chipped away, trailing just 103-100 entering the fourth quarter. The final period became a tense, back-and-forth struggle featuring seven lead changes and five ties. The most important sequence came in the closing minute with Indiana clinging to a 125-123 lead. Following a critical steal by Pascal Siakam, the Pacers worked the clock. With the shot clock winding down, Siakam isolated near the elbow, created space, and sank a crucial 12-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds remaining to push the lead to 127-123. Atlanta’s ensuing possession resulted in a missed three-pointer, and after free throws by Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers sealed the five-point win. Nembhard was the catalyst for Indiana, delivering a stellar performance with 26 points and 10 assists. He orchestrated the offense and hit timely shots, continuing a strong recent stretch of play. Siakam provided essential secondary scoring with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including the game’s biggest basket. Aaron Nesmith added 23 points, and Jarace Walker posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. For Atlanta, Jalen Johnson recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, but his effort was ultimately overshadowed by the loss. Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 21 points, and Mouhamed Gueye added 15. Statistically, the game was an anomaly. Indiana won despite the 23 turnovers and a significant deficit in assists, finishing with only six to Atlanta’s 11. The Pacers’ superior shooting efficiency, highlighted by an offensive rating of 116.2 points per 100 possessions compared to Atlanta’s 112.4, proved to be the decisive factor. The combined score of 253 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 233.5, while the result flipped the script on the betting spread that had installed Atlanta as a slight favorite. The Pacers will look to build on the win as they host the Houston Rockets on Monday. The Hawks, meanwhile, continue a road trip with a visit to the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Preview: Hawks at Pacers INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Atlanta Hawks will look to rebound from a blowout loss and complete a three-game season sweep of the struggling Indiana Pacers when the teams meet Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Hawks (24-26) enter having lost four of their last six, including a 104-86 home defeat to Houston on Thursday. Guard C.J. McCollum led Atlanta with 23 points in that loss and has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 18.6 points over his last 10 games. He tallied 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in Atlanta’s 132-116 win over Indiana just five days ago. Indiana (12-36), which snapped a three-game skid with a 113-110 win over Chicago on Wednesday, will seek to avoid a third consecutive loss to Atlanta this season. The Hawks also won the first meeting 128-108 in Indianapolis on Oct. 31. Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard is coming off an 18-point, nine-assist performance against the Bulls and has recorded four double-doubles in points and assists over his last 10 contests. He dished out 13 assists in Monday’s loss in Atlanta. Despite their poor overall record, the Pacers have shown sporadic potency at home, including wins this month over Miami, Boston and Oklahoma City. The Hawks, however, have won five of their last seven road games. Atlanta’s recent success has been fueled by offense, scoring at least 110 points in eight of its last 10 outings. Containing McCollum and supporting scorers like Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be a primary challenge for an Indiana defense that allows a league-worst 122.1 points per game. The game is the first of a brief two-game homestand for Indiana before a six-game road trip. Atlanta continues a stretch of playing seven of eight games on the road. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST Saturday.