Hawks-Pacers playoffs history

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks' playoff history has been far from stellar (they nearly missed an entire decade of postseason play from 1999 to 2007). When they have been in the playoffs, Indiana has ended Atlanta's postseason dream more than any other team after Boston. The Eastern Conference foes have met five times prior to this season (Indiana leads series 3-2) and will be playing for the first time in a game 7. Here's a look back at how they've played out:

The Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers' first playoff meeting came in the 1987 Eastern Conference first round. The Hawks won 3-1, with the help of a 27-year-old Dominique Wilkins who put up 43 points in Game 2.

The Hawks and Pacers met for the first of three straight years in the playoffs in the the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers defeated the top-seeded Hawks 4-2. It was the Pacers' first playoff series victory in their 18-year history.

Hawks Steve Smith walks off the Omni court after the Hawks were eliminated from the first round of the 1995 Eastern Conference playoffs in three straight games by the Indiana Pacers. Indiana won each game in double digits and for the second time in two years went on the Eastern Conference Finals.

Stacey Augmon, a.k.a. Plastic Man, goes up for a dunk as Pacers Dale Davis attempts to back out of the way. The Hawks' team that was went winless in the playoffs featured starters Augmon, Mookie Blaylock, Grant Long, Steve Smith and Craig Ehlo off the bench.

Hawks guard Mookie Blaylock averaged 18 points a game in the Pacers' sweep of Atlanta in the Eastern Conference first round in 1995.

A year after being swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Hawks once again found themselves matched up against the Indiana Pacers. Without injured star Reggie Miller, the Hawks ganged up on the Pacers and won the first two out of three games decisively.

In 1996, the NBA first round returned to a best of seven series. The Hawks needed just five games to eliminate the Pacers in the first round.

Steve Smith walks off the court after defeating the Pacers to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals in 1996. An injured Reggie Miller return in the game five to try to stave off elimination, but despite a heroic 29 points the Hawks prevailed. The Hawks went on to lose to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

In what was Josh Smith's (far left) final game in an Atlanta uniform, the Hawks fall to the Pacers in six games. Smith was Atlanta's top scorer (17.5 points) and second-leading rebounder (8.4) coming into the playoffs. He finished the postseason averaging 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Kyle Korver, a trade acquisition by the Hawks in the 2013 season, was a key reserve for Atlanta. Korver started two games against the Pacers, notching 10.2 games per contest, and averaging two 3-pointers per game.

Forward Al Horford led all Atlanta Hawks scorers against the Pacers in 2013, with 16.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

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The Atlanta Hawks' playoff history has been far from stellar (they nearly missed an entire decade of postseason play from 1999 to 2007). When they have been in the playoffs, Indiana has ended Atlanta's postseason dream more than any other team after Boston. The Eastern Conference foes will be playing in the first decisive Game 7 of their history. The two teams have met five times prior to this season (Indiana leads series 3-2). Here's a look back at how they've played out:

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