First Thoughts: Pacers 93, Wizards 73
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Assistant Editor
INDIANAPOLIS – First thoughts after the Indiana Pacers routed the Washington Wizards 93-73 on Friday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse:
IN A NUTSHELL: Paul George scored 23 points and Roy Hibbert had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead the Pacers to their sixth straight win ahead of a difficult schedule in early December. Lance Stephenson flirted with his third triple-double and left with about three minutes remaining just three points shy. He had 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Indiana shot 44 percent to Washington’s 40 percent and led by as many as 25 in the final frame. The Pacers are 9-0 at home and now 15-1 on the season.
KEY SEQUENCE: Indiana opened the second half on an 8-2 run, with three baskets from Hibbert. His two-hand jam completed the flurry and forced Washington coach Randy Wittman to call time out.
BEST OF THE REST: Washington played without two starters (power forward Nene and shooting guard Bradley Beal) and prized rookie Otto Porter. … Washington has now lost 11 straight in Indianapolis.
WHAT WE LEARNED: Pacers games are predictable. Indiana starts strong, hits a dead spot in the second quarter and then races away in the third. That happened again tonight and Indiana hounded Washington’s careless ball handlers and passers into 18 turnovers. Indiana players will fly out immediately after the game, get a day to adjust their body clocks and then suit up in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon to start a five-game West Coast road trip.
