Hield drilled his most three-pointers in a game without a miss
- Sheldon Longley
- Nov 23, 2023
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Bahamian Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield got his first start of the season on Tuesday, and it paid dividends as he exploded, having one of his best performances as a professional shooting-wise.
Hield had his most three-pointers in a game without a miss in his eight-year career, finishing 6-for-6 from downtown to help the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) number one offensive team, Indiana Pacers, take down the Atlanta Hawks, 157-152, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday.
The Pacers were led by their Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidate Tyrese Haliburton, pouring in a side-high 37 points and adding 16 assists. He was 11-for-18 from the field, including 9-for-15 from deep. In total, the Pacers drilled 22 three-pointers, tied for the second most in franchise history – a feat they accomplished five times. The franchise record is 23, done against the Brooklyn Nets last year.
The Bahamian was on fire all night, particularly in the fourth quarter when he scored 13 of his season-high 24 points. He had the go-ahead bucket in the final minute of the game, drilling a three-point shot from the left wing to give the Pacers a 155-152 lead with 52.1 seconds remaining. Hield had the last eight points of the game for the Pacers including two three-point shots. His previous trey before the go-ahead basket gave the Pacers a 152-150 lead with 1:20 remaining.
Saddiq Bey made a layup to tie the game 12 second later but Hield put the Pacers ahead for good with his trey inside the final minute of the game.
He certainly made a case for major minutes, once healthy, for the rest of the season.
Pacers’ Head Coach Rick Carlisle decided to make the move, his first performance-based lineup change for the season. Aaron Nesmith joined Hield in the starting lineup and second-year wing Bennedict Mathurin and forward Obi Toppin were relegated to the bench for the first time this season.
All four players were productive in the new roles, each scoring in double figures. Nesmith was in foul trouble but had a strong second half on the defensive end and scored 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting. Mathurin seemed more comfortable in the sixth man role he was in for so much of last season as he scored 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Toppin added 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 38 points and eight assists. Dejounte Murray scored 28 and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 26 on 10-for-15 shooting.
The win for the Pacers clinched a spot in the NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, becoming the first team to do so. They have an unblemished 3-0 win/loss record in East Group A with one game left in group play. The quarterfinals will be held December 4-5.
The 309 combined points by the two teams on Tuesday matched the 16th highest-scoring game in NBA history, and it was the highest this season.
It was only the sixth time in NBA history, including the playoffs, that a team scored at least 152 points in a non-overtime game and lost. Teams are 92-6 in such games.
Atlanta led by 20 in the second quarter, but the Pacers came all the way back and tied it at 107 when Haliburton hit a three-pointer with just under four minutes remaining in the third. Haliburton scored 26 points in the period, and Indiana led 119-114 entering the fourth.
The Pacers shot 60.6 percent from the floor and 48.9 percent from three-point range while the Hawks shot 59.4 percent overall and 48.4 percent from deep.
The Pacers hosted the Toronto Raptors at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, last night, but the result of that game was unavailable up to press time.
Overall, the Pacers have an 8-5 record (prior to last night), sitting in sixth in the Eastern Conference of the NBA.
For the season, Hield is averaging 12.3 points on 43.8 percent shooting from the field. He is shooting 40.6 percent from three-point land. He is averaging his fewest points and minutes per game since his rookie season in the NBA.