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Pacers visit Atlanta

Jan 8, 2014 - 4:08 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Before the Indiana Pacers return to the comfy confines of home, they will visit to the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday at Philips Arena.

The Eastern Conference-leading Pacers will begin a four-game homestand Friday versus Washington, Sacramento, New York and the Los Angeles Clippers, but hope to take care of business in Atlanta.

Indiana has won three in a row and eight of its last nine games, and improved to 28-6 with Tuesday's 86-79 triumph versus Toronto. Roy Hibbert led the way with 22 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, Lance Stephenson ended with 13 points and 10 boards and Danny Granger netted 13 points as well.

Paul George was limited to 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting for the Pacers, who shot 42.7 percent for the game and made only 1-of-11 3-pointers. They held the Raptors to 37 percent shooting and 5-of-19 from beyond the arc.

"Our guys buckled down, had a great defensive performance," said Pacers head coach Frank Vogel. "It was a good win."

George Hill had 11 points in the win.

The Pacers, who are 11-5 away from home this season, haven't reached 100 points in their last five games. They are, however, first in opponents' scoring at 88.3 points per game.

Atlanta is still searching for its first win in the new year and will play two straight and four of the next five games at home.

The Hawks fell to 0-3 in January with Monday's 91-86 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague scored 16 points apiece, while both Elton Brand and DeMarre Carroll added 10 points.

The Hawks made just 38.6 percent for the game and committed 18 turnovers for 28 Brooklyn points.

"We felt like we could (get over the hump) and a few things didn't go our way," Millsap told NBA.com. "But still we fought to the end. At the end of the day, we've just got to work on our fundamentals."

Atlanta guard Kyle Korver extended his consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 104 games, an NBA record, and had seven points. The Hawks, owners of a 12-5 home record, are 2-4 since losing star big man Al Horford to a torn pectoral muscle.

The Hawks and Pacers split four meetings a season ago, while Atlanta has won 13 of the previous 17 games in this series. Indiana is a much better group this season, but has lost 11 in a row and 13 of 14 trips to Atlanta.