 won their fourth in a row and improved to 15-6 since Jan. 6, the league's best winning percentage (.714) in that span.The Hawks (18-42), who have the NBA's worst record, are 5-25 on the road and have dropped three in a row overall.Young shot 7 of 13 and made a pair of 3-pointers in the first half. It's just the sixth time he's scored 20 points this season, the previous occasion a home win against Orlando on Jan. 27.Backup forward Domantas Sabonis led the Pacers with 21 points and 13 rebounds for his 13th double-double of the season. Six Pacers scored in double digits.Hawks reserve guard Isaiah Taylor scored 17 points in just his second NBA game.TIP-INSHawks: Failed to score at least 100 points after seven consecutive games over the century mark, the best such stretch since a streak of nine games in 2016. . F/C John Collins has 143 offensive rebounds, which leads all NBA rookies. The next closest player is Philadelphia's Ben Simmons at 100. . G Dennis Schroder, the team's leading scorer at 19.5 points per game, is one of just three players in the league to amass at least 90 steals and 40 blocks. The Pacers' Victor Oladipo and Simmons are the other two.Pacers: Improved to 21-11 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and assured themselves of a winning record at home for the 29th consecutive season, the longest such streak in the NBA. . New Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, hired 12 days ago, was in attendance and received rousing applause when he was shown on the arena's video screens. . Oladipo extended his franchise-record steal streak to 42 games with an opening-quarter theft. Ron Artest (2002-03) held the previous mark at 40. Oladipo averages 2.1 steals, which ranks third in the league. . PG Darren Collison missed his fifth consecutive game as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.WELCOME BACKPacers reserve G/F Glenn Robinson III was understandably amped up for his season debut after undergoing extensive rehabilitation from left ankle surgery. The fourth-year pro was so excited, he shot an airball on an initial 19-foot jumper.About 90 seconds later, Robinson faked a defender out of position and swished a 21-foot pull-up shot. As he jogged down the court, Sabonis acknowledged the moment by tapping an appreciative Robinson on the back of the head. Robinson had four points and two rebounds in 19 minutes.YOUTH GROUPThe Hawks have nine players on their 15-man roster with one year or less of NBA experience, an average of 2.3 years of service as the league's youngest team, according to Elias.UP NEXTHawks: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.Pacers: Visit Dallas on Monday.---More NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball)
Feb 22, 2018 INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers chose not to make any moves before the NBA trade deadline, but they will be adding a key player.After being sidelined all season following left ankle surgery, Pacers forward Glenn Robinson III is targeting a return against visiting Atlanta on Friday night. Robinson made two rehab starts with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants,"I'm ready to go," Robinson told reporters repeatedly Wednesday.Pacers coach Nate McMillan said he plans to play Robinson between five and 10 minutes Friday."Today when he walked out on the floor he looked like the old Glenn," McMillan said. "He looked like the Glenn who walked into training camp." It's a nice boost for the Pacers (33-25), who won nine of 12 games heading into the All-Star break. Robinson said he has learned from his bench watching time and hours of video."Overall as a player, I'm two times a better player than last year," he said. "It's crazy, because I spent so much time away from the game, but I actually think that that helped me; helped me a lot. Everything happens for a reason." Robinson started 27 games last season, averaged 6.1 points per game and was the NBA All-Star Dunk Champion."The No. 1 thing is defense," he told Pacers.com of his contributions. "I've talked to all the coaches about that. I think I can be another defender for this team, but on the offensive end I can space the floor and knock down shots. I think the biggest thing is my ability to run the floor and play off others." Indiana has an offensive rating of 108.4 points per 100 possessions, which is sixth in the NBA.Atlanta (18-41) is ranked 24th in the NBA defensively.The Hawks transferred guard Josh Magette and forward Andrew White III from the Erie BayHawks, the team's G League affiliate, to Atlanta. Both players are on two-way contracts.Magette has played in nine games with the Hawks, averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 assists in 7.7 minutes.White III has appeared in one game with Atlanta. In his NBA debut on Feb. 14 at Detroit, he finished with a team-high 15 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 17 minutes (6-of-11 shooting, 3 of 7 3-pointers), becoming the first Hawk since Rumeal Robinson in 1990 to score 15 or more points in his NBA debut.Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he will add a new wrinkle or a new play but doesn't plan to make any drastic changes to the team's direction. He doesn't plan to favor youth over experience the rest of the season."I think we've been a mix of young and veteran guys all year," he said. "I think the way we progressed through the season -- of course when you start the season you think it could be a little different -- (but) right now but I think the way we've played, and the way we continue to play, won't be that much different."
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