A month into the 2023-24 NBA season, the Pacers are making a case for having one of the best offenses in NBA history. At the same time, they're making a case for having one of the worst defenses the league has ever seen.
Indiana's strengths — and weaknesses — were on full display on Tuesday, Nov. 21, as it came out on the right side of a 157-152 victory over Atlanta in regulation. To put things in perspective, it was the third time this season that the Pacers have scored over 140 points and the second time they've given up over 150 points. Indiana has played 13 games this season and has yet to go into overtime.
And while the books are aware of the Pacers' penchant for high-scoring affairs, not even Vegas could come close to predicting what transpired in Atlanta on Tuesday night.
Ahead of Tuesday's game between the Pacers and Hawks, the over/under for combined total points was set a 252.5, the highest total in 27 years. By combining to score 309 points, the teams smashed the over by 57 points, a feat that's historic in itself.
Here's a look back at the historic night by the numbers.
MORE: Warriors land Tyrese Haliburton in 2020 NBA redraft
Pacers vs. Hawks, by the numbers
309
The Pacers and Hawks combined to score 309 points in regulation. The output is the highest combined total in regulation since the Rockets and Wizards combined to score 317 points on Oct. 30, 2019.
76
With 37 points and 16 assists leading to 39 points, Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton was responsible for 76 of the team's 157 points. Haliburton shot 9 of 15 from 3-point range and in the third quarter alone, scored 26 points, setting a new franchise record.
Tyrese Haliburton put up a heroic performance to lead the @Pacers back from 20 down and clinch East Group A!
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2023
🔥 37 PTS
🔥 16 AST
🔥 9/15 3PM pic.twitter.com/R6A7rJJWKj
13
Between the Hawks and Pacers, a total of 13 players scored in double figures, six of whom scored 20 or more points. Hawks guard Trae Young led all scorers with 38 points, followed closely by Haliburton's 37.
Dejounte Murray (28), Bogdan Bogdanovic (26), Buddy Hield (24) and Obi Toppin (21) were the game's other 20-point scorers.
4
One month into the 2023-24 season, four teams have scored 150 or more points. The Pacers have been on the giving end twice and the receiving end twice.
| Rank | Total points | Teams | Date |
| 1. | 157 | Pacers vs. Hawks | Nov. 21, 2023 |
| 2. | 155 | Celtics vs. Pacers | Nov. 1, 2023 |
| 3. | 152 | Hawks vs. Pacers | Nov. 21, 2023 |
| 4. | 152 | Pacers vs. Spurs | Nov. 6, 2023 |
Highest-scoring games in NBA history
While the Pacers and Hawks combined to score a total of 309 points, the total output doesn't crack the top 10 in NBA history. And although five of the games required overtime, there are five games in which teams combined to score more than 309 points in regulation.
Here are the 10 highest-scoring games in NBA history:
| Rank | Total Points | Game Result | Date |
| 1. | 370 | Detroit Pistons 186, Denver Nuggets 184 (3OT) | Dec. 13, 1983 |
| 2. | 351 | Sacramento Kings 176, LA Clippers 175 (2OT) | Feb. 24, 2023 |
| 3. | 337 | San Antonio Spurs 171, Milwaukee Bucks 166 (3OT) | March 6, 1982 |
| 4. | 329 | Chicago Bulls 168, Atlanta Hawks 161 (4OT) | March 1, 2019 |
| 5. | 320 | Golden State Warriors 162, Denver Nuggets 158 | Nov. 2, 1990 |
| 6. | 318 | Denver Nuggets 163, San Antonio Spurs 155 | Jan. 11, 1984 |
| 318 | Phoenix Suns 161, New Jersey Nets 157 (2OT) | Dec. 7, 2006 | |
| 8. | 317 | Houston Rockets 159, Washington Wizards 158 | Oct. 30, 2019 |
| 9. | 316 | Philadelphia Warriors 169, New York Knicks 147 | March 2, 1962 |
| 316 | Cincinnati Royals 165, San Diego Rockets 151 | March 12, 1970 | |
| 316 | Phoenix Suns 173, Denver Nuggets 143 | Nov. 10, 1990 |
