Hawks Look to Exploit a Pacers Team Without Its Floor General

By NBA Stat Desk How we produce articles

Atlanta's depth issues up front are real, but Indiana's loss of Haliburton tilts this one toward the Hawks.

ATL @ IND Nov 3, 2026 at 12:30 AM UTC

The biggest factor in Atlanta at Indiana is who won't be on the floor for the home team. Tyrese Haliburton is out with a hamstring strain, and CBS Sports lists him as week-to-week, so the Pacers will be without their lead guard again. That matters because Indiana has already shown how difficult it is to function without him: the shorthanded Pacers fell 114-109 to the 76ers, even with Pascal Siakam putting up 26 points and 11 rebounds. At 2-3, they enter this game still searching for a stable offensive identity.

Aaron Nesmith adds another wrinkle. Yahoo lists him as probable with a hamstring issue, and SI notes he missed the opener and the final preseason games. If he plays, Indiana gets needed wing help, but a player working back from that kind of problem may not be at full strength. The Pacers will lean heavily on Siakam to create, and that can make the offense predictable against a disciplined defense.

Atlanta is not arriving in perfect shape. The Hawks dropped three straight before the Cleveland game, and sources differ on whether they stood at 2-3 or 3-3 after that contest. Their frontcourt is also thin, with Henri Veesaar (ACL) and Mouhamed Gueye (foot) out, while Landale's status is reported inconsistently. That could cost them on the boards and around the rim.

Still, the Hawks' record came against strong competition, and New Orleans described them as a team with playoff aspirations. That tested résumé gives Atlanta the edge over an Indiana group missing its primary playmaker. Expect the Pacers to stay competitive at home, but the Hawks' stronger guard play and organization should decide a close game late.

Prediction: Hawks 114, Pacers 108.

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