Hawks eye back-to-back wins vs. injury-riddled Pacers

Meeting for the second time in three days, the Atlanta Hawks will look to sweep a two-game set with the visiting Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.Atlanta used a 38-point fourth quarter on Thursday to earn a 124-118 win over the Pacers — its first victory against Indiana since March 2023. The Hawks enter Saturday winners in two of three games following a 1-5 stretch.A balanced offensive effort from Atlanta included Georges Niang’s 24 points, Trae Young’s 22-point, 16-assist double-double and rookie Zaccharie Risacher’s 3-for-3 3-point shooting mark. Risacher — last year’s first overall pick in the NBA Draft — has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 12 games and has increased his points per game average to 11.6.”We’ve seen Zaccharie just continue to improve,” Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder said. “Sometimes you see it when the box score says he makes shots. There’s other times when maybe the ball isn’t going in, but he’s doing other things that are less noticeable. I thought he had a really good game tonight. He runs the floor really well for us and also uses his size on the defensive glass. I’ve continued to say this, and I’ll say it again. When you work, good things happen, and he works.”Young’s 23.6 points per game lead Atlanta, while his 11.6 assists per contest are the most in the league. Caris Levert (knee) has scored 16.0 points per game since being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, but is questionable for Saturday. Niang has averaged 14.4 ppg in 10 outings with the Hawks.A short-handed Pacers team had their two-game winning streak snapped in Atlanta, as they were without both Tyrese Haliburton (hip) and Bennedict Mathurin (wrist). Pascal Siakam’s 35-point night was spoiled as Indiana struggled to slow the Hawks around the basket.