Pacers News

Pacers News

Pacers News - The doubts raised about the Indiana Pacers were more than justified. The way they dispatched the Washington Wizards shows that perhaps the Pacers have dismissed any and all dysfunction. Roy Hibbert revived himself in Game 2. Team defense smothered the way to a win in Game 3. Paul George went off for 39 points in Game 4. And, after an ugly Game 5, David West came up big in the clincher. West scored 29 points Thursday night, and the Pacers blew a 16-point second-half lead but pulled away late in a 93-80 win that ousted the Wizards in six games. "Guys just showed unbelievable grit, unbelievable toughness." So, for all their mysterious slumps and chemistry curiosities, the Pacers are back where they were last season -- playing the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 1 against the two-time defending NBA champions is Sunday in Indianapolis. Indiana took Miami to seven games last year. If the Pacers spread the wealth the way they did against the Wizards, LeBron James and the Heat could be in for a tough series.

On Thursday, it was West's turn. Marcin Gortat scored 19 points, and John Wall had 12 points and nine assists for the Wizards, who ended their best playoff run in decades. Washington won a playoff series for the first time since 2005 and a second-round game for the first time since 1982. The Wizards ultimately were undone by an inability to win at home, going just 1-4 at the Verizon Center and 5-1 on the road in the playoffs. The future looks bright, however, with youngsters Wall and Beal manning the backcourt. We definitely made Indiana earn it." Things didn't look much better when they were pushed to seven games in the first round by eighth-seeded Atlanta or when they lost Game 1 at home to the Wizards. "Nobody was happy about it," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. The Wizards had to reschedule a Lady Gaga concert to host the game, upsetting the singer's fans and prompting an apology from team owner Ted Leonsis. "We've been through it all this season," said Lance Stephenson, who added 17 points. Wall expressed his support for coach Randy Wittman, whose contract is expiring. Gortat on the Wizards' home woes: "Maybe we have to be locked before the game in the hotel and have a team breakfast in the morning, have two buses from the hotel to the game."

 Indiana claimed the best-of-seven series, four games to two, but the Wizards got the attention of the Pacers and the rest of the league by shedding their inconsistency during the regular season. “A lot of teams respect us now,” Wall said after scoring 12 points with nine assists . Veteran forward David West (29 points ) answered Beal’s three-pointer with a step back jumper as Indiana put the Wizards away with a series closing 20-6 run. The Pacers won for the third time in as many games at Verizon Center in the series. The Washington franchise still hasn’t won a second-round game at home since 1979, a stretch that was extended to 0-7 Thursday . Gortat scored a team-high 19 points after joking before the game he wished the Wizards had played Game 6 on the road, where they went 5-1 in the postseason. After the team finished 1-4 at home, Gortat was searching for answers. The Pacers have been procrastinators all season. West was disappointed by the Pacers’ effort on Tuesday, believing his teammates thought the Wizards were just going to roll over with their season on the line. But West made sure that the Pacers came out as the more desperate team.

Beal made a three-pointer to give Washington the lead and, for 15 seconds, all was right for the Wizards. The Pacers handled their business Thursday night at the Verizon Center, finishing off the Washington Wizards in six games, 93-80, to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive season. David West shouldered the load, with 18 of his game-high 29 points in the second half. The Wizards, who were coming off a 23-point beatdown of the Pacers in Indianapolis Tuesday night, took their only lead of the second half on a Bradley Beal triple. From there, the Pacers outscored the Wizards 20-6 over the final 8:30 to secure the win, and the series. Still with a bad taste in their mouth from their Game 5 loss, the Pacers were locked-in and played angry. Indiana set the tone early by going inside where the duo of West and Roy Hibbert teamed up for the team’s first nine points. The Pacers limited the Wizards to 33 percent shooting in the second, evened the rebounding total and held a 12-point halftime advantage, 52-40.

The Wizards used a pair of runs in the third stanza to get back in the ball game. As the backcourt duo of Wall and Beal began hitting, the Wizards continued to bite into the Pacers’ lead. The Pacers won all three road games in the series and five-straight going back to their First Round series with Atlanta. Game 1 is Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM ET. All five Indiana starters scored in double figures for the first time this postseason. David West’s 29 points, his playoff-high in a Pacers uniform, came on 13-of-26 shooting. Lance Stephenson had his best game of the series, registering 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Roy Hibbert added 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Paul George was quiet offensively, finishing with 12 points and five rebounds. Wizards center Marcin Gortat led the Wizards with 19 points. Bradley Beal was held to 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting and John Wall contributed 12 points and nine assists. Fast-break points were a wash with 10 points apiece. We’re lucky to have David West.” – Frank Vogel on the Pacers’ run after the Wizards brief lead in the fourth quarter – David West on taking over late. “This was our Game 7. – David West – Paul George – Roy Hibbert – Lance Stephenson