George Hill and David West scored 21 points apiece, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 81-73, in Atlanta on Friday night to win Game 6 and take the first-round, best-of-seven NBA playoff series, four games to two. Despite allowing a 15-point lead to dwindle to three points with just more than two minutes remaining, Indiana advanced to face the New York Knicks in the second round.

Pacers' center Roy Hibbert added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Al Horford led the Hawks with 15 points. Atlanta teammates Josh Smith and Devin Harris finished with 14 points each. The Hawks had hoped to win Friday to force Game 7 in Indianapolis on Sunday.

Indiana def. Atlanta, 4-2

(Home team in bold.)

Game 1: Indiana 107, Atlanta 90
Game 2: Indiana 113, Atlanta 98
Game 3: Atlanta 90, Indiana 69
Game 4: Atlanta102, Indiana 91
Game 5: Indiana 106, Atlanta 83
Game 6: Indiana 81, Atlanta 73

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