The Indiana Pacers played for their playoff lives against an Atlanta Hawks team that decided to rest its top-five scorers. On paper, the Pacers should cruise to a win to lock up the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference… but these are the Pacers. Nothing regarding this team is ever easy.
Here’s how Pacers fans & media reacted to the game on Twitter
PREGAME
Hawks will rest tonight vs. Pacers: Millsap, Howard, Bazemore, Schroder, Hardaway all OUT. Sefolosha probable.
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) April 12, 2017
Well that helps… in theory.
Asked McMillan if he referenced the Hawks reserves beating Cavs recently to Pacers tonight: Smiles "There's a lot of stuff on our board."
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) April 12, 2017
Nothing is assured. Not with these Pacers. Not this season.
Pacers run out of the tunnel to Drake. They ain't making the playoffs, folks.
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) April 12, 2017
*sings* “Passionate from miles away…”
That would work…
Based on reaction to National Anthem, I'd say BLF crowd ready to get nuts! #pacers
— Tom Lewis (@IndyCornrows) April 13, 2017
Nothing quite like playoff-ish basketball. I think we’re ready.
1ST QUARTER
This start isn't making anyone feel better.
— 8 Points, 9 Seconds (@8pts9secs) April 13, 2017
Pacers down by six early with some very ugly offense. Air balls galore. The effort is there, the execution is lacking.
Hey Pacers - get the next bucket & never trail again. Run away with it. pic.twitter.com/WLDtmWgxA7
— Dave “Mortgages” Searle (@MillerTimePod) April 13, 2017
Pacers trail by one at the first timeout.
PG for 3️⃣ and the lead!
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 13, 2017
IND 12, ATL 10 with 5:00 left in the 1st
The Pacers take their first lead of the game after the nervy start.
Pacers 22 Hawks 15 after 1. Pacers not shooting well, but holding Atlanta under 30% from the floor.
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) April 13, 2017
After two air balls from Lance Stephenson, the Pacers go on an 8-0 run to end the quarter.
2ND QUARTER
https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/852320992017960960
3J has arrived… three early three-pointers.
Lance's motor is unmatched out here. A quick 4pts, 6rebs, and 3asts off the bench — helping the Pacers take their first double-digit lead.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) April 13, 2017
Lance does it all. https://t.co/0Nj50ZrgaX
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 13, 2017
Let’s just say he bounced back quite nicely from those air balls. Getting into the lane and getting shots for Miles, rebounding like a mad man. His energy is infectious. Pacers +11.
The help? Yeah, it’s not coming. Meanwhile, the Hawks have cut an 11 point lead to two midway through the quarter.
PG slips on a wet spot getting a rebound. Scary for about 10 seconds, but seems to be okay.
Heat fans so mad in our mentions rn 😂
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 13, 2017
We know the feeling. *shrug*
Halftime: #Pacers 50, Hawks 43@Yg_Trece 14p/7r@Original_Turner 10p/6r@masfresco 9p pic.twitter.com/kZekOOyNce
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 13, 2017
A sloppy half of basketball from both teams, but these Hawks aren’t going anywhere.
3RD QUARTER
Don't let Calderon guard you, Jeff. He can't.
— Nilla Nillanovic (@JayNilla) April 13, 2017
Teague starts the half scoring 7 straight points. Pacers build the lead to 14 & force a Hawks timeout with a 9-2 run to start the half.
Monta Ellis is the ultimate freeloader.
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) April 13, 2017
Has 0 points, 0 rebounds and 1 assist... but is +13 on the court.
Pacers fans are not exactly fond of Mr. Ellis tonight. This is one of the nicest tweets about Monta.
Jeff has 14 points in the quarter so far.
Paul George has 20, his 12th straight game with 20 or more, 1 shy of the longest streak of his career.
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) April 13, 2017
Oh yeah, let’s not forget about that guy… he’s pretty good too.
Pacers are 12 minutes away from clinching a playoff berth, leading the Hawks 84-68.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) April 13, 2017
“You have come so far… you’ve got so far to go” © D’Angelo
If you are breathing a sigh of relief right now, you haven't been following the Pacers long enough.
— Dave “Mortgages” Searle (@MillerTimePod) April 13, 2017
Precisely.
4TH QUARTER
8:51 left in the 4th: IND 86, ATL 73#GoPacers
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 13, 2017
An uneven stint by the bench (plus Thad). The clock isn’t moving nearly fast enough. PG, Myles, and Jeff will return after a timeout.
Favorite Pacers couples.
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) April 13, 2017
1a) Mr. & Mrs. Young
1b) Mr. & Mrs. Miles
2) Lance Stephenson and Kevin Seraphin
3) Larry Bird & plodding big men for an (allegedly) up-tempo team.
Eh...
— Pacers Posse (@PacersPosse) April 13, 2017
Hawks on an 11-4 run. Pacers lead is only 9.
A crazy and-one. The All-Star is here.
The Bulls and Heat have now gone final, both winning. Pacers need a win to get in, IND up 11 with 5:15 left
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) April 13, 2017
Help yourselves, Pacers.
PG
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 13, 2017
FOR
THREEEEEEEE
Make that 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the 4Q.
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) April 13, 2017
PG having himself a game, 32 points and 10 boards.
C’mon, NBA media. Do the right thing. All-NBA team, please and thank you.
Jeff Teague rolls his left ankle & immediately goes to the locker room. Just awful timing for the Pacers, who had the win already secured.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 13, 2017
And it was a non-contact injury. Not great, Bob.
Standing ovation for Paul George, who heads to the bench with 1:37 to play. He'll finish with 32 points and 11 rebounds.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 13, 2017
Yeah, let’s not make this a worse night.
We’re heading to the Playoffs. #PacersWin!@Yg_Trece 32p/11r@Teague0 19p/7a@Original_Turner 16p/7r pic.twitter.com/evcFV98zKc
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 13, 2017
Well, they did it. The Pacers fight off a pesky Hawks bunch to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Indiana is the 7th seed… and their reward???
Cavs are locked as the 2-seed.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 13, 2017
Ohhhhh… those guys. The defending NBA champs.
Wait, are we sure about this?
Paul George vs LeBron, Part IV
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 13, 2017
Soon... pic.twitter.com/VjwcSZBjKZ
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) April 13, 2017
Oh yeah, this is could fun.