Jalen Johnson posted 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as the Atlanta Hawks beat the Indiana Pacers 128-108 in their NBA Cup East Group A opener on Friday in Indianapolis.
Atlanta’s victory was underpinned by a commanding 34-17 third quarter and an even spread of contributors in the absence of floor general Trae Young (right knee sprain).
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, Dyson Daniels had 18 and Kristaps Porzingis scored 15 for the Hawks, who had seven players in double-digit scoring.
Indiana, last season’s NBA finalist but still winless after five games this campaign, is missing several players through injury, headlined by star point guard Tyrese Haliburton (right Achilles).
Pascal Siakam scored 18 points and Jarace Walker contributed 17 for the Pacers, who misfired at 35.4% from the floor and 27.7% from 3-point range.
Atlanta hit 51 of 94 attempts (54.3%) from the field and outscored Indiana 74-38 in the paint.
The Pacers came out aggressively as Siakam and Aaron Nesmith piloted them to a 20-8 jumpstart, before the Hawks hit back with a 16-2 response to edge in front.
Atlanta led 32-29 at the end of the first quarter, which comprised eight lead changes.
Siakam had eight free-throw attempts in the first frame, and Indiana visited the stripe 23 times in the opening half.
The Pacers’ 12 offensive rebounds kept them in the game in the first half, limiting the Hawks’ lead to 63-59.
Atlanta put its foot down in the third period.
The Hawks started the quarter on a 9-0 run, which turned into a 27-9 surge for a 90-68 lead, highlighted by Alexander-Walker’s defense-splitting, left-handed jam over Walker.
Indiana was ice-cold, shooting 5 of 24 for the period, while also being choked off on the glass, outrebounded 20-8.
Zaccharie Risacher, scoreless in the first half, had 10 points for the quarter, and Jalen Johnson added eight boards as the Hawks streaked ahead 97-76 with a quarter to play, before Atlanta’s lead drifted back out to 24 in the fourth.
