Pacers, without Haliburton, meet a Hawks defense built on steals

The Atlanta Hawks (3-4) and Indiana Pacers (2-5) meet Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET in Indiana, where Atlanta's turnover-forcing defense faces a Pacers team missing Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac.

Atlanta forces turnovers on 15.5% of opponents' possessions, second in the league, and Dyson Daniels supplies three steals a game. He now faces a backcourt without its lead guard.

Haliburton averages 21.8 points and 9.5 assists. Without him, Indiana loses the hands that keep its offense clean against a defense that lives on deflections.

The Hawks also push the ball, with a pace of 104.7 that ranks sixth. Indiana's defense gives up 114.4 points per 100 possessions, 23rd in the league, so a fast game favors the visitors.

Indiana's best path runs to the foul line. The Pacers rank 11th in free-throw rate, and Atlanta is 25th at keeping opponents off it.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads Atlanta with 19.3 points a game. Jalen Johnson adds nine rebounds and 7.9 assists, and he is questionable.

Kingston Flemings, Mouhamed Gueye, Jock Landale and Henri Veesaar are out for Atlanta, and Keshon Gilbert and Jalen Wilson are doubtful.

Indiana is thinner still. Beyond Haliburton and Zubac, who averages 8.7 rebounds, Ben Sheppard, Johnny Furphy and T.J. McConnell are out, and Obi Toppin is day-to-day. The Pacers already rank 27th in offensive rebounding.

Indiana has lost four straight, the latest a 98-90 home loss to Brooklyn after a 145-125 defeat at Miami. Atlanta comes off a 121-99 loss at New Orleans.

Sportsbooks' prices give Atlanta a 63% chance to win Monday, November 2. Keel Stats' projection, built from the players available, puts it at 72% with a 7.4-point margin.