The Indiana Pacers got punched in the mouth by the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of this series. They responded with an impressive 101-85 win to even the series in Game 2. But the Hawks did all that they needed to do in Indianapolis -- they won a game and stole home court advantage from the Pacers. Now the series shifts to Philips Arena in Atlanta and the Hawks have a real chance to put themselves in position to pull off the first round upset.
NBA playoffs 2014, Pacers vs. Hawks: Game 3 time, TV schedule and more
The Hawks will look to gain control of the series at home in Atlanta.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
After scoring 101 points in the first game of the series, the Hawks managed just 85 points in Game 2. A lot of that had to do with a Pacers squad that seemed much more engaged and dialed in. The problem is that it’s impossible to know what Pacers team will show up nowadays. When they’re playing up to their potential, Indiana still has an elite defense. But if the off-the-court drama gets to them, we might see Indiana complete one of the more impressive collapses in NBA history.
After Jeff Teague went off for 28 points in Game 1, Frank Vogel's squad managed to hold Teague to just 14 points in their Game 2 win. Atlanta has the ability to play offense at a high level and their ball movement can be spectacular at times, but it's really Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague that allow them to compete with Indiana. You can be sure that the Pacers will lock in on those two guys and try to stifle the Atlanta attack.
Oh and in case the prospects of a No. 8 seed upsetting the No. 1 seed weren’t enough, there are apparently reports that Frank Vogel is now coaching to keep his job. So that should be interesting. It’s only Game 3, but there’s a lot on the line in this one.
Game time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Philips Arena, Atlanta
TV: NBATV
Announcing crew: Kevin Calabro, Steve Smith, Molly Sullivan
Local: SportSouth, Fox Sports Indiana
See More:
