The formula for not just performing better, but winning, vs. the Washington Wizards wasn t complicated. Transition defense. That s No. 1. First and foremost, said Indiana Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren, whose team lost in giving up 154 to them in regulation five days ago. If we re good in that category that means we re better at protecting the paint as well.
The Pacers had given up 96 points in the paint earlier in the week to Washington. They only gave up 66 on Saturday but Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook were still too much.
Westbrook was able to get his historic triple-double and make two free throws with 1 second left in overtime as the Pacers lost 133-132 and got swept in the season series.
Westbrook and Beal push Wizards past Pacers
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It was fitting that on a night he tied Oscar Robertson for the NBA’s all-time record in triple-doubles, Russell Westbrook made an array of clutch plays to help the Wizards claw out a one-point overtime win over the Indiana Pacers and move into 9th place in the East.
It was a classic Westbrook game his 181st triple-double with 33 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists.as well as just 11-26 shooting and 7 turnovers.as well as a steal, and two blocks, including the potential last-second game-winner from Caris LeVert in overtime.
Pregame notes
The Washington Wizards play against the Indiana Pacers in what could be a possible regular season series sweep. Russell Westbrook has dominated against the Pacers and hopefully will do so on Saturday night.
Wizards are half a game behind which means if they win they’ll move up to the ninth spot in the standings. If the season were to end and the Wizards won they’d host a play-in tournament game instead of being the visitor. They’re even a game and a half behind the Charlotte Hornets for the eighth spot which would be even better based on how the play-in tournament works.
Beal, Washington set for matchup against Indiana
Indianapolis; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards take on the Indiana Pacers. Beal ranks second in the league scoring 31.1 points per game.
The Pacers are 17-20 against conference opponents. Indiana averages 42.5 rebounds per game and is 11-4 when outrebounding opponents.
The Wizards have gone 13-24 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington is fifth in the league scoring 52.4 points per game in the paint led by Beal averaging 12.6.
The teams play for the third time this season. The Wizards won the last meeting 154-141 on May 3. Rui Hachimura scored 27 points to help lead Washington to the win.
Wizards fall short against the Bucks
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It’s okay. The Milwaukee Bucks are a title contender and one of the best teams in the NBA. They have an elite player in Giannis Antetokounmpo (whose name I just spelled correctly without having to look it up for the first time ever), two excellent “second star” types (Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton), and a bunch of solid pros who are productive and know how to play.
Missing Middleton basically evened things up a bit with the Wizards over the past month, the Wizards have had an elite performer on many nights in Russell Westbrook, an excellent “second star” in Bradley Beal, and then a grab-bag of different guys on different nights doing the supporting cast thing.