NBA playoffs: Thunder, Pacers take control with Game 3 victories

That left Wizards officials optimistic prior to Game 3, and why not? To a man, the Wizards felt they gave away Game 2 with poor late-game execution and defensive breakdowns. Clean those up, and Indiana would perish. They were the better team on the whole in the first two games and had arguably been the better team for several weeks.

Instead, this Indiana Pacers team showed up again. The sleeping giant everyone feared, but few believed would return. The one that leaves opponents and bystanders alike venting like they just left the dentist. They routed the Wizards, 85-63, sending their fans storming to the exits wondering if they were witnessing another overhyped D.C. professional sports team providing them false hope before falling apart.

An East Coast brawl and a West Coast shootout. Sounds about right.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

ROAD BEEF, AGAIN: Both road teams in the OKC-LA and IND-WAS series won again. The Pacers held off the Wizards in a slobberknocker with a college score (85-63), while the Thunder won a shootout against the Clippers (118-112). In the East game, the teams combined to shoot 37 percent. In the West game, they shot 50 percent.

This was one of the lowest-scoring games in NBA Playoff history and the lowest-scoring game in Wizards franchise history. The teams combined for just 67 points in the first half. The Wizards offense fell completely off the rails by the third quarter, scoring just 12 points on 33 percent shooting.

The Wizards host Game 4 on Sunday.

Behold: Three-parts cotton, all-parts mid-sleeve top:

Not to be outdone -- at all -- Westbrook raised the stakes by wearing this indescribable pair of pants:

The Pacers did what they do best against Washington in Game 2, locking down on three-point shooters while limiting their turnovers on offense. Where the Wizards hit an incredible 10-of-16 three-pointers in Game 1, they connected for just five in Game 2.

Now, the pressure is on the Wizards as they turn back to the nation’s capital. The worry all playoffs has been that the Pacers will suddenly snap out of it, Hibbert will return to form and Indiana will be the juggernaut they were back in January. There’s no saying whether or not Indiana will be able to replicate their Game 2 performance, but Randy Wittman’s squad will have to find a new way to open up the arc against the Pacers on Friday to grab a series lead.

For Los Angeles, finding room for Paul and Griffin is going to be crucial for Game 3. Paul was still able to log 11 assists in the loss to the Thunder, but he struggled getting to the line. No Clippers starter had more than six free throw attempts in Game 2. The Thunder will need to keep Westbrook and Durant front-and-center in their offense on Friday as the Clippers are sure to adjust.

Game time: 10:30 p.m. ET

8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

10:30 p.m. (ESPN)