Huff Leads Pacers as Injured Squad Falls to Hawks 108-104

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. The Indiana Pacers lost to the Atlanta Hawks 108-104 on Monday night, extending their losing streak to five games. Jay Huff led the Pacers with 22 points, while Quenton Jackson contributed 20 and Braden Smith added 19 points and 10 assists.

The Pacers fielded a six-man lineup due to extensive injuries and rest requirements. The starting five consisted of Huff, Jackson, Jarace Walker, Smith, and Jalen Slawson. Kobe Brown served as the team's only reserve, recording 16 points. Walker played 44 minutes, the most on the team, while Jackson logged 34 minutes.

Indiana trailed for the majority of the first three quarters but never fell behind by more than 15 points. The game remained close in the final minutes. With 1:36 left, Jackson stole the ball from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and scored a layup to cut the deficit to 106-104. Jackson missed a three-point attempt with 43.1 seconds remaining that would have put the Pacers ahead. Onyeka Okongwu of Atlanta then made a jumper with 10.2 seconds left to secure the final margin.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 34 points. Atlanta was without Jalen Johnson, who suffered a sprained left ankle. Coach Rick Carlisle described the Pacers' roster situation as injury management before the game. The team was missing Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Johnny Furphy, T.J. McConnell, Larry Nance Jr., Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, Obi Toppin, and Ivica Zubac due to various ailments. Kelly Oubre Jr. was a late scratch with a bruised knee.

The combined salary of the players who did not play was approximately $193 million, whereas the players on the court earned about $15 million in total. The Pacers had played the second night of a back-to-back schedule.

The Pacers will travel to Memphis on Wednesday. The Hawks are scheduled to play at Washington on the same day.