Philippines, 08 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NBA Playoffs - Hawks? valiant stand falls short as Pacers advance


PhilBoxing.com


INDIANA -- Nobody expected the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks to give the East?s top seed, Indiana Pacers, a run for their money. Nobody imagined the Hawks would beat the Pacers in Game 1 of their first round matchup, more so, Game 5 in their home building where they only lost five games all year.

The Hawks not only punched the bullies in the mouth and shock the NBA world with a 101-93 win at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the series? opening game, they made the contenders look like pretenders for majority of the series by extending the Pacers? highly-touted defense with their 3-point shooting led by Kyle Korver, they were also two minutes away in Game 6 at home from completely erasing them from the postseason altogether.

In the end, however, asking the Hawks to win Game 7 on road proved to be too ambitious as the Pacers managed to get their bearings together just in time to advance to the second round with a 92-80 win. The Pacers were simply too big, too talented, and too deep for the short-handed Hawks who finally came back to earth after a hot-shooting series from range, by hitting only 30 percent from the field, and going 11-44 from beyond the 3-point line.

"At some point, something had to give as far as them having the legs to make jumpers. I just thought we grinded them down so much throughout this series that when you get to a Game 7, those jump shots just weren't falling,? said Pacers All-Star Paul George who led all scorers with 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Fatigue definitely seemed to finally befell the overmatched Hawks as All-Star Paul Millsap went 0-9 to start the game and was held to 15 points, on 6 of 21 shooting. Kyle Korver chipped in 19, while Jeff Teague who has had a fabulous series, was limited to 16.

There?s no reason for the Hawks to hang their head low though. The Pacers did what they were supposed to do, while the Hawks more than accounted for what many expected from them
without their franchise player Al Horford who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury early in the season.

From Korver?s record-setting 127 games with at least a 3-point field goal made in a game, to the emergence of Teague as a true leader, the way they closed out the regular season to snag the final seed from the Knicks, to the gutsy fight they put up against the Pacers in this series, the Hawks have had a good year considering all the changes and setbacks they faced this season, and have a bright future ahead of them.

Their immediate future, however, involves vacation trips as their season finally came to an end Saturday night in Indianapolis, while the Pacers move on to the second round to host the idle Washington Wizards at home on Monday.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ben Franklin.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
    , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • “Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • “I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.