On Tuesday night, there were three different types of NBA fans. People who were disgusted by the lack of defense during the Hawks-Pacers game. Those who watched the Hawks-Pacers game and struggled to recover from the exhilaration of witnessing one of the most wild basketball games in history did not sleep a wink.
There were also those who didn’t watch any of the game.
The Hawks may have lost, but if you’re an NBA fan and didn’t watch the game, you were the true losers on Tuesday night. The Pacers won this game 157-152, but it wasn’t your typical NBA contest. The game featured All-Stars.
Both up and down. After one after the other in buckets. Depending on whatever book you read, the pre-game over/under line was 252.5 points, the highest since 1995. These madmen easily surpassed that amount just over one-third of the way into the fourth quarter. At some point, the live line exceeded 300. That’s not something I believe I’ve ever witnessed.
That is an All-Star game total once more.
Not an actual game.
However, despite being a quasi-real game, it ended at 309 points! In 32 years, that is the biggest amount cashed over. With two top-tier offenses playing against two bottom-10 defenses, a huge production was undoubtedly anticipated, but there is only so much one can bet on both sides of the spread.
If you were scared off by the bloated line and either stayed away or, worse, went with the under, perhaps you should’ve checked Indiana’s early season scoring trends. Entering Tuesday, the over had hit in 11 of Indiana’s 12 games by an average of almost 14 points above the line.
With their two-point leads over the Spurs on Tuesday and their two-point deficits against the Celtics and Hawks on Tuesday, Indiana has now played in four of the highest scoring games of the season. To make matters worse for Atlanta supporters, the Hawks held a 20-point advantage over Indiana late in the second quarter.
Here’s your chance to view the final six minutes, which consisted of an unadulterated fireworks display.
The highest scoring total in Indiana’s NBA franchise history is 157 points. The 309 points in total are the 16th most in history and the most points scored in a game this season. For the record, the Pistons’ 370 points in a 186-184 victory over the Nuggets in 1983 set the record for the highest scoring total in NBA history.
That contest, however, required three overtimes. For a total of 320 points, the Warriors defeated the Nuggets 162-158 in 1990, setting a record for the highest non-overtime game in history. At 309, the Hawks-Pacers game holds the record for the ninth-highest scoring total in non-overtime history.
The Pacers had seven players with at least 14 points, led by Tyrese Haliburton’s 37, and the Hawks had six players with at least 14 points, led by Trae Young’s 38.
Both groups made 60% of their field goals and 48% of their three-pointers. With 22 made 3-pointers against Memphis on October 30, Indiana has made the second-most of the season.
Each team made 28 free throw attempts.
By the way, the Pacers, who improved to 8-5 overall, won Group A in the Eastern Conference to guarantee a position in the In-Season Tournament knockout phase.
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