Hawks stun top-seeded Pacers in Game 1

The Indiana Pacers' late-season slide carried into the post-season, as they dropped Game 1 of their matchup with the Atlanta Hawks by a score of 101-93.

The Hawks were led in scoring by point guard Jeff Teague, who finished with 28 points on 9-of-19 shooting. He also embarrassed Pacers guard Evan Turner with a slick cross-over.

Atlanta managed to pull away in the third quarter behind the play of Teague and Millsap, who combined for 27 points in the third. The Hawks bested the Pacers by a score of 30-16 in the frame.

Disappointed with their team's effort, Pacers fans were seen leaving in droves midway through the fourth quarter. The few who stayed loudly booed their team in displeasure.

As a whole, the game was won in a battle between the starters. The Hawks' starting unit looked cohesive, and executed on offense. But the Pacers largely labored, even on the simplest of sets:

[courtesy: Kyle Wiedie]

During the regular season, the Pacers' defense allowed the fewest points per 100 possessions in the NBA. However, Atlanta scored from every spot on the floor, including from the line, where they shot 24-of-29.

The Hawks spaced the floor with at least four three-point shooters at any given time, and the drive-and-kick unraveled the Pacers' vaunted defense. Hawks center Pero Antic played a key role in spacing, as Indiana's centers were lured outside of the paint by his success from the three-point line.