01-08-2020, 05:26 AM
INDIANAPOLIS -- Atlantas Jeff Teague demolished the Pacers grand playoff plan. As his teammates set up around the 3-point line, Teague simply blew through open lanes to the basket repeatedly. The Pacers didnt have an answer. Teague scored a playoff career-high 28 points, Paul Millsap added 25 and the eighth-seeded Hawks won their first road playoff game in three years, shocking top-seeded Indiana 101-93 to take a 1-0 lead in the first-round series. "I just wanted to win," the Indianapolis native said after beating his hometown team. Perhaps thats why Teague finally cracked a hesitant smile in the locker room before stepping to the podium. Or it could be that Teague remembers the frustration Indiana caused when it clinched last years 4-2 first-round win on Atlantas home court. As one of the few remaining links to that team, Teague wasnt about to let something like that happen again. This time, surrounded by a mostly new group of 3-point shooters, a first-year coach and a game plan that the Pacers never adapted to, Teague kept getting to basket. He wound up 9 of 19 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line with five assists and three rebounds on a night the Hawks snapped an eight-game road losing streak in the playoffs and became the first team to beat Indiana on its home court twice this season. Atlanta won its first road playoff game since Game 1 of the 2011 Eastern Conference semifinals at Chicago, and theyll have a chance to do it all again Tuesday in Game 2 before the best-of-seven series movies to Atlanta, where the Pacers have won only two times since December 2006. "I think getting off to such a good start against such a good team is important," coach Mike Budenholzer said after his fifth win in six games. "Its really not something we talked about. Theyre the No. 1 seed for a reason." Meanwhile, the Pacers stunning struggles showed no sign of abating. Indiana was just 5 of 19 from the field in the decisive third quarter and shot just 35.6 per cent in the second half, a 24-minute span in which it spent most of the time trying to dig out of a double-digit hole. Paul George had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Lance Stephenson finished with 19 points and seven rebounds and George Hill added 12 points. But the Hawks ability to spread the floor essentially nullified All-Star centre Roy Hibbert, who had eight points and eight rebounds, and David West, who had eight points and three rebounds. And Indiana wasted no time in giving back the home-court advantage it spent the entire season chasing. "Its frustrating. Its frustrating, but its a long series," George said before explaining he believes the Pacers can regain the upper hand -- if they figure out how to defend better. "Its just one game and thats the way we have to look at it." That wont be easy against this team. Atlanta set a franchise playoff record with 30 3-point attempts and matched the franchises second-highest playoff total for 3-pointers made (11). Both were set May 10, 1996, when the Hawks were 12 of 27 on 3s in a 26-point loss to Orlando. "I thought our ball movement was great," Kyle Korver said after scoring 12 points. "Thats one of the things weve tried to play to all year and tonight it kind of worked out." They made it look easy, too. Korvers buzzer-beating putback, following an Indiana turnover in the closing seconds of the first half, tied the score at 50. Atlanta then opened the third quarter with eight straight points and when the Pacers rallied to get within 60-58, Teague and Millsap took control. Millsap opened the decisive 14-0 run with two free throws. Teague followed that with a driving layup, his only 3 of the game, another layup and two free throws. And when Millsap ended the run with a three-point play, the Pacers trailed 74-58. They couldnt even cut the lead to single digits until Stephensons 3 made it 99-91 with 33.6 seconds left and by then it was too late for the leagues best home team to rally. "All year, weve encouraged Jeff to be aggressive," Budenholzer said. "When hes aggressive, it just creates opportunities for himself and opportunities for his teammates." And headaches for everyone else. Notes: Atlanta made eight of its first 12 shots in the third quarter. ... Indiana hasnt reached the second round of the playoffs in consecutive years since 2003-04 and 2004-05. ... The Game 1 winner has won each of the five previous playoff series between Atlanta and Indiana. ... Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll has 12 points and 10 rebounds. Fake Avalanche Jerseys . He had spent 16 days on the disabled list before being activated Thursday. He was batting just .203 when he came to bat in the 11th inning on Sunday. Stitched Avalanche Jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will head into the regular season short on experience at quarterback after trimming the roster on Friday. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . - Novak Djokovic beat John Isner 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-1 on Saturday to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open, where hell resume his longtime rivalry with Roger Federer. Colorado Avalanche Store . The 31-year-old Russian dominated the No. 3-ranked Ferrer throughout, breaking the defending champion and local favourite four times on the indoor hard court. Colorado Avalanche Pro Shop . This is Lowry’s third time winning the award in his career. He won the award last season and as a member of the Houston Rockets in 2011.LONDON – The numbers dont look promising for Milos Raonic when it comes to his semi-final showdown against Roger Federer at Wimbledon. Consider the following: * Federer has won 17 grand slam titles, including seven at the All England Club. Raonic, meanwhile, is playing in his first ever slam semifinal. * Raonic has lost seven straight matches against top-four players dating back to 2012. Federer is currently ranked No. 4. * Raonic has never beaten Federer in four tries and the most recent match, at the 2013 Australian Open, ended in straight sets. That was their only previous encounter at a slam. * Federer is the most successful active player on grass with a 130-18 career record and 14 titles. Before this tournament, Raonic had never made it past the second round at Wimbledon and had a sub-.500 record on grass. * Federer has never lost a Wimbledon semifinal in eight previous appearances. Did we mention Raonic has never played in any slam semifinal? So, it seems pretty bleak for the 23-year-old, right? Not so according to Raonic, who is aiming to become the first Canadian man to ever make a major final. Heres what he had to say when asked about facing Federer on a court where hes had the most success in his career - a career that may go down as the best ever. "Im going to step out there andd Im not playing the seven-time Wimbledon champion.dddddddddddd Im not playing a 32-year-old man. Im not playing the father of two sets of twins, which is a very low possibility bet to do. Im not playing the guy thats won whatever hes won, which I could probably list quite vividly. Im playing a guy that is standing in my way of what I want to achieve, and Ive got to focus on everything thats there, on the situation, how best to deal with it to give myself the best possibilities to achieve what I want." Raonic understands how big a win could be for him on Friday. It could be a career-defining moment. "It can be if I get the job done. I focus on what I need to do. Everything else is a ripple effect. Everything else is a reason. I have to create the cause for it by playing good tennis and giving myself the possibility to win." As for those four previous losses to Federer? "Hes gotten the better of me all four times, but I havent played him in more than a year, a year and a bit, so I think Im a different player," Raonic said. "Ive got in close with him in the past. Ive found a lot of those things [that will help me] sort of pull away. That gives me a lot of belief that I can do this. "So theres no point to talk about it. Ive got to step up and do it." ' ' '