Hawks Edge Pacers 120-118, Secure Second Straight Win Over Indiana

For the second time in three days, the Atlanta Hawks outlasted the Indiana Pacers, clinching a thrilling 120-118 victory at State Farm Arena on Friday night. The Hawks’ back-to-back wins over the Pacers improved their season record to 31-32, keeping them in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Over the two-game stretch (March 6 and March 8), Atlanta averaged 122.0 points, 45.5 rebounds, and 27.5 assists, shooting an impressive 49.7% from the field (95-191). The Hawks’ strong defensive presence, highlighted by their ability to force turnovers and control the paint, was a key factor in both victories.

Stealing the Spotlight

Atlanta’s defense shined once again, registering 10 steals in the win — marking their 39th game this season with double-digit thefts. This achievement stands as the most in a single season for the franchise since 1995-96 and currently ranks as the highest total in the Eastern Conference and second-most in the NBA, trailing only Oklahoma City (40). Atlanta continues to lead the East with 9.89 steals per game, solidifying their identity as one of the league’s most aggressive defensive teams.

The Hawks also made their presence felt in the paint, tallying 10 blocks — marking their fifth game this season with 10 or more rejections. Atlanta has now recorded three games this year with 10+ steals and 10+ blocks, tying them for the most such games in the NBA.

Okongwu’s Dominant Night

Onyeka Okongwu delivered a monster performance, recording a double-double with 16 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals in just 32 minutes of action. His stat line placed him in elite company, as he became only the third player this season (joining Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns) to record at least 16 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and three steals in a single game.

The fifth-year pro also notched his 18th double-double of the season and his 41st career double-double. Okongwu has been on a tear recently, recording four double-doubles in his last five gameswhile averaging 16.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 blocks on an efficient 66.7% from the field and 80.0% from the line.

Young Stays Hot

All-Star guard Trae Young once again carried the offensive load, finishing with a game-high 36 points, including an impressive 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Young also dished out eight assists and grabbed four rebounds in 33 minutes of action.

Young has found his groove in March, now averaging 24.5 points, 13.0 assists, and 2.8 reboundsthrough his first four games of the month. His ability to control the pace and create scoring opportunities continues to fuel Atlanta’s offense.

Daniels Making History

Dyson Daniels added another defensive masterclass to his resume, recording five steals, 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 35 minutes. Daniels has now posted five-or-more steals in a game 12 times this season, the most in a single season by any player since Chris Paul (14 games in 2010-11).

Daniels also surpassed Victor Oladipo’s 2017-18 total of 177 steals, claiming the title for most steals in a single season since 2013-14 (Ricky Rubio, 191 steals). He has now recorded at least one steal in 35 consecutive games, marking the longest active streak in the NBA and the sixth-longest streak in franchise history.

Offensively, Daniels extended his career-long streak of scoring 10 or more points to 16 consecutive games, averaging 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.9 steals on 52.9% from the fieldand 55.2% from beyond the arc during that stretch.

LeVert Shines Off the Bench

Since joining Atlanta, Caris LeVert has continued to make a significant impact off the bench. He finished the game with 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting, 4-of-7 from three, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, along with three rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.

LeVert notched his seventh game this season with 20 or more points, five of which have come in his 12 games as a Hawk. Since being traded to Atlanta, LeVert has averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 28.5 minutes per game, solidifying his role as a reliable scoring option off the bench.

Pacers’ Effort Falls Short

Despite a hard-fought battle, the Pacers came up just short. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 30 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 40 minutes off the bench. Andrew Nembhard also posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists, adding six rebounds and three steals.

Next Up

The Hawks will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at State Farm Arena on tonight, March 10th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. With momentum on their side, Atlanta hopes to continue climbing the Eastern Conference standings.