Schroder Helps Hawks Hold Off Late Pacers' Comeback Attempt

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Published on March 1 2018 6:09 am
Last Updated on March 1 2018 1:38 pm

By ESPN

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks, with little more on the line than their spot near the top of the next NBA draft, outhustled an Indiana team playing to improve its position in the playoffs.

For Pacers coach Nate McMillan, that's not acceptable.

Dennis Schroder scored seven of Atlanta's final eight points to finish with 14, and the Hawks held off a late Indiana comeback to beat the Pacers 107-102 on Wednesday night.

"Once again, we got out-worked tonight," McMillan said, referring to what he said was a similarly discouraging effort in a loss at Dallas on Monday.

McMillan said the strong effort from the lowly Hawks should be a warning to his players about the competition they can expect in the final weeks of the regular season.

"You are getting a taste of what it's going to be like going down the stretch," he said.

Schroder set the pace with his defensive leadership in the first half and his scoring in the final minutes.

"I put the team on my back and it started with defense," Schroder said. "I think that everybody sees that and everybody played with me. It was one of our best games defensively."

Schroder had five of Atlanta's 13 steals. The Hawks blocked 11 shots, including four by Dewayne Dedmon.

The Pacers committed 24 turnovers. Victor Oladipo said that was the key statistic.

"Ain't no way around it," said Oladipo, who had 22 points.

Bojan Bogdanovic led Indiana with 26 points while making four 3-pointers in the final period. His third 3 of the period cut the Atlanta lead to 97-91. A follow shot by Domantas Sabonis, who had 14 points, pulled the Pacers to 101-99.

Schroder answered with a layup with 44 seconds remaining, and then added another driving layup following an Indiana turnover.

"We wanted to be the aggressors but they came out harder than us," Sabonis said.

The Pacers began the night fifth in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.

John Collins had 16 points for the Hawks, who ended their four-game losing streak.

Taurean Prince had 15 points, all in the first half, and Dedmon also scored 15.

Atlanta led 55-50 at halftime before outscoring the Pacers 30-15 in the third quarter to extend the lead to 85-65. The Hawks scored the first 10 points of the second half.

Lance Stephenson, who had 18 points, and Sabonis made back-to-back 3-pointers to start the Pacers' comeback.


Wednesday, February 28 Scoreboard

Detroit 110, Milwaukee 87

Toronto 117, Orlando 104

Atlanta 107,l Indiana 102

Boston 134, Charlotte 106

Golden State 109, Washington 101

Phoenix 110, Memphis 102

Oklahoma City 111,  Dallas 110 (OT)

New Orleans 121, San Antonio 116

Houston 105,  Los Angeles Clippers 92


Thursday, March 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

Los Angeles Lakers at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Brooklyn at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Minnesota at Portland, 9:30 p.m.

 

Friday, March 2 Schedule (All Times Central)

Detroit at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Golden State at Altanta, 6:30 p.m.

Toronto at Washington, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Denver at Menphis, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

New York at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

 

Saturday, March 3 Schedule (All Times Central)

Memphis at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Denver at Cleveland, 6:30 p.m.

Detroit at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

Boston at Houston, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Portland, 9 p.m.

Utah at Sacramento, 9 p.m.


Sunday, March 4 Schedule (All Times Central)

Phoenix at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m.

Charlotte at Toronto, 5 p.m.

Indiana at Washington, 5 p.m.

New Orleans at Dallas, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Brooklyn at Los Angeles Clippers, 8 p.m.

New York at Sacramento, 8 p.m.