2014 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks – Game 4

Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks
Time: 2 PM ET, Apr 26, 2014
TV: TNT
Spread: IND -2.5
Total: 186

Betting odds courtesy of Bovada

The Hawks won game three 98-85 to take a 2-1 lead in the best of seven series.

Game four will remain in Atlanta where the Hawks find itself 2.5 point underdogs to the Pacers according to NBA oddsmakers at Bovada.

The Hawks got a strong shooting performance from its backcourt of Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver. Though Teague connected on just 35 percent from the floor, he finished with 22 points and 10 assists, while Korver was 4-of-7 from three-point range en route to 20 points and six boards.

Paul Millsap struggled to find his shot, hitting just 3-of-11 from the floor, but he opened up the court for the Hawks shooters. Atlanta was plus-20 for Millsap’s 38 minutes in game three.

The Pacers are still getting close to nothing from Roy Hibbert, who played just 19 minutes in game three. Hibbert hit just 2-of-9 from the floor and had four points and two boards on the evening. The Pacers cannot be taken seriously as contenders with its All-Star center performing as though he is playing his way out of the league.

Lance Stephenson stepped up and had 21 points in game three, and he could potentially swing this series in favor of the Pacers. He needs to embrace the void that has been left in Indiana’s offense, and his strong contributions on the boards (13 in game three), as well as creating for his teammates (4 assists) could give the Pacers an added threat. Though Stephenson is a free agent this summer, he needs to embrace his chance here with the Pacers and possibly play his way into an even bigger pay day this summer.

The Pacers are a team in disarray and Paul George has fallen off precipitously in the last three months of the season. George had 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting in game three, but he is going to have to get more looks than that. Otherwise, the Pacers may be held to 85 points again.