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Pacers hold Wizards to team-low 63

 
Published May 10, 2014

WASHINGTON — Paul George had his best game of the series with 23 points and eight rebounds, and the Pacers held the Wizards to a franchise-low playoff total Friday night in an 85-63 victory for a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Roy Hibbert was again a factor for Indiana with 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Washington made only 24 field goals, another team postseason worst, on 73 attempts, 32.9 percent. That included 4-of-16 on 3-pointers, and it didn't get much better on free throws, where the Wizards were 11-of-21.

Washington fans booed and most started heading to the exits after George's 3-pointer with 3½ minutes left made it 75-58.

Game 4 is Sunday night in Washington.

George came in averaging 14.5 points and six rebounds after two games against the Wizards, but he overcame a slow start on a night filled with plenty of ugly offense from both teams.

Indiana led 34-33 at halftime. It was only the 13th league playoff game in the shot clock era (beginning in 1954-55), that two teams combined for 67 or fewer first-half points. The record of 60 came in a 2004 game between Indiana and Detroit.

The Wizards' total of 63 eclipsed the team postseason worst of 75, set 1½ weeks ago in its Game 5 victory that eliminated the Bulls in the first round. It also tied for the fourth-lowest total by any club since 1954-55.

Pacers 85, Wizards 63

INDIANA (85): George 6-15 9-10 23, West 6-14 0-0 12, Hibbert 6-9 2-4 14, G.Hill 3-6 0-0 9, Stephenson 4-13 0-1 9, Mahinmi 0-0 2-2 2, Watson 0-3 1-2 1, Turner 2-6 0-0 4, Scola 4-8 2-2 11, Butler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-74 16-21 85.

WASHINGTON (63): Ariza 4-8 2-4 12, Nene 3-14 2-6 8, Gortat 2-7 0-0 4, Wall 6-13 3-6 15, Beal 6-19 3-3 16, Gooden 0-1 1-2 1, Webster 0-3 0-0 0, Miller 1-3 0-0 2, Temple 1-1 0-0 3, Booker 0-0 0-0 0, Harrington 1-2 0-0 2, Seraphin 0-1 0-0 0, Porter Jr. 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-73 11-21 63.

Indiana 17 17 26 25— 85

Washington 17 16 12 18— 63

3-Point GoalsIndiana 7-15 (G.Hill 3-5, George 2-4, Scola 1-1, Stephenson 1-3, West 0-1, Watson 0-1), Washington 4-16 (Ariza 2-6, Temple 1-1, Beal 1-5, Wall 0-1, Harrington 0-1, Webster 0-2). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsIndiana 51 (George 8), Washington 56 (Ariza 15). AssistsIndiana 20 (G.Hill, Stephenson 5), Washington 10 (Wall 6). Total FoulsIndiana 20, Washington 22. TechnicalsScola. A20,356 (20,308).

LATE THURSDAY: Kawhi Leonard scored 20, Tony Parker had 16 points and 10 assists, and the host Spurs rolled to a 114-97 victory over the Blazers for a 2-0 lead in the West semifinals. Boris Diaw scored six straight points to ignite a 23-8 run that gave San Antonio a 54-36 lead with seven minutes left in the first half.

ODEN SAYS HE'S A BUST: Greg Oden was the No. 1 overall selection out of Ohio State in the 2007 draft by the Blazers. Now he's a little-used reserve for the Heat. "I know I'm one of the biggest busts in NBA history,'' Oden told grantland.com. Oden, 26, returned in January after missing three seasons to injury but has not played in the playoffs.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE: The Warriors are expected to contact the Bulls about coach Tom Thibodeau, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Warriors fired Mark Jackson on Tuesday. Thibodeau has coached the Bulls to the playoffs in each of his four seasons.