Pacers vs. Wizards final score, NBA playoffs 2014: Indiana advances to Eastern Conference Finals
David West led the way in the fourth quarter, killing the Wizards from midrange as Washington failed to upset the Pacers in D.C.
Despite their late-season collapse, the Indiana Pacers have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The No. 1 team in the East beat the Washington Wizards on Thursday night, 93-80, to face the Miami Heat for the second year in a row.
Indiana came out in the first half absolutely on fire, shooting 58.8 percent in on their way to dominating the Wizards, 52-40. David West and Lance Stephenson both had 11 points through two quarters, and the Pacers offense clicked on all cylinders.
Washington opened the second quarter by going on a run, but their offense quickly stagnated. The Wizards briefly took the lead after a run in the middle of the fourth quarter, but West took over. The Pacers big man hit long jumper after long jumper, widening the lead back to double digits.
West led the way for Indiana with 29 points on 13-of-26 shooting, adding six rebounds and four assists. Stephenson contributed 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with eight assists, five rebounds and a block. Roy Hibbert scored 11 points to go along with seven rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Paul George scored 12 points.
For Washington, Marcin Gortat scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, grabbing six rebounds to go along with an assist. John Wall scored just 12 point son 5-of-16 shooting with nine assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block. Bradley Beal scored 16 points on 7-of-19 shooting. The Wizards shot just 11.1 percent from three as a team.
