NBA: Robinson’s three-pointer lifts Pacers over Hawks
Glenn Robinson III #40 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the 2017 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest at Smoothie King Center on February 18, 2017, in New Orleans, Louisiana. AFP
WASHINGTON, United States — Glenn Robinson drained a three-pointer with six-tenths of a second remaining Sunday as the Indiana Pacers erased a six-point deficit in the final two minutes to stun the Atlanta Hawks 97-96.
The host Hawks had erased an 11-point second-half deficit and led 96-90 with 1:43 to play — but didn’t score again.
Baskets from Indiana’s Jeff Teague and C.J. Miles trimmed the deficit to two points and the Pacers won it when Teague rebounded a Tim Hardaway Jr. miss and rushed the ball up the court and into the corner, where Robinson connected for the game-winner.
Robinson’s third three-pointer of the game gave him 11 points.
The Hawks missed a chance to win at the buzzer as Paul Millsap’s jump shot rattled off the rim.
The win saw the 32-30 Pacers move into sixth place in the Eastern Conference and within two games of fifth-placed Atlanta.
Paul George led the Pacers with 34 points — his 11th game of 30 or more this season.
Hardaway paced Atlanta, draining four three-pointers en route to 24 points while Millsap contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds.
The Hawks didn’t have coach Mike Budenholzer on the sideline. He was serving a one-game suspension for bumping a referee as he argued a call during Friday’s game against Cleveland.
The Hawks latest acquisition, experienced point guard Jose Calderon, didn’t play.
Atlanta claimed the 35-year-old Spaniard off waivers, bringing him to his sixth team in five years.
Calderon secured a buyout last week from the Los Angeles Lakers and signed with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday but was waived two hours later.
The Warriors were forced to abandon their plans to sign Calderon after Kevin Durant suffered an ligament sprain and bone bruise in his left knee that will sideline the star forward for at least four weeks.
The Warriors then signed veteran forward Matt Barnes to a contract on Thursday. CBB
