INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana took the floor Monday night with exactly one substitute, and the Atlanta Hawks still had to sweat out a 108-104 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Eleven Pacers were unavailable because of injuries, illness or rest, a group that accounts for roughly 93 percent of the team payroll. Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Ivica Zubac were among those sidelined, and Pascal Siakam was held out to rest with the team playing for a second straight night. Kelly Oubre Jr. became a late scratch with a knee bruise.
That left six players to carry the load, the fewest Indiana has used in a game since 2004. Jay Huff led the group with 22 points, Quenton Jackson scored 20 and two-way guard Braden Smith, making his first NBA start, put up 19 points and 10 assists. Kobe Brown added 16 off the bench, Jarace Walker scored 15 in nearly 45 minutes and Jalen Slawson had 12.
Atlanta leaned on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who made nine 3-pointers and scored 34 points. CJ McCollum handed out 12 assists, and Luguentz Dort and Corey Kispert each scored 14.
Coach Rick Carlisle described the night as an unlucky convergence of problems and said the team had to be careful with its health. The loss was Indiana’s fifth in a row.
The whole league is off Tuesday for Election Day. The Pacers return Wednesday at Memphis.
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