The Hawks carry the stronger record and power ranking into a matchup shaped by key playmakers’ availability.
Atlanta arrives at 3-4, ranked 19th in the power index, while Indiana is 2-5 and ranked 24th. The Pacers are still searching for their first home win after opening 0-3 there, and they have allowed 116.7 points per game. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined, Andrew Nembhard’s 44 assists in six games and Pascal Siakam’s 150 points in seven will be central to Indiana’s offense. Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson, who has 128 points and 56 assists in seven games, is questionable after spraining his left ankle; his availability could shift the playmaking burden. The deciding question is whether Indiana’s creators can steady the offense against a Hawks team averaging 116.3 points per game.