ATLANTA — Nearly giving this one away late, the Hawks (33-34) survived a close call vs. the Pacers (23-46), winning 131-128 on Sunday at State Farm Arena.
1. John Collins missed this game with a right ring finger sprain and a right foot strain. He missed seven games for the right foot strain from Feb. 13 to March 3. Collins has not fully looked like himself since returning March 4, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on March 7 that he was playing through pain. The Pacers, meanwhile, had numerous players out, many of whom are central figures on the team, including Malcolm Brogdon (concussion), T.J. McConnell (right wrist ligament surgery), Ricky Rubio (left knee ACL tear), Myles Turner (left foot stress reaction) and T.J. Warren (left navicular fracture).
2. Trae Young dominated early, setting a career high for points in a half with 33 in the first half. He finished with 47 points (13-20 FG, 7-for-10 from 3-point range, 14-14 FT), five assists and three rebounds overall, with four turnovers and two steals. He finished as a plus-2, though, with the Pacers winning the fourth quarter, 36-26. They dialed in on limiting Young in the second half.
