Thaddeus Young’s runner in the closing seconds put Indiana in the win column against Washington. Paul George led the Pacers with 27.
Thaddeus Young was inbounded the ball with under five seconds in the fourth and the game tied. Young drove around Markieff Morris and put in an off-balance left-handed floater to seal the win for the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers found themselves in a tie game late due to a 7-0 Wizards run over the course of a minute with flops and moving screens setting up a 105-105 tie that would eventually swing in Indiana’s favor after a Bradley Beal missed three with 0.9 seconds remaining put Indiana into the win column.
Paul George led all scorers with 27 points, including nine straight Pacers points in the fourth, including this beautiful baseline jumper.
But after the game, George was less concerned about the win or his performance, but more with how he felt the game was called. After the game with Jeremiah Johnson, George spoke out about the calls, saying he didn’t know what is or isn’t a foul anymore. Had the Wizards completed their comeback, it would have been a much sorer subject, but as it stands, it will be a footnote and a fine.
The fouls were a touchy subject for the Pacers in the fourth when the Wizards erased a nine point third quarter deficit by working into the bonus within the first two minutes of the fourth and it was Washington who shot all 13 free throws in the fourth quarter, finishing on a pair from Beal after fouling out Myles Turner.
Young’s floater was big not only in getting the win of course, it capped off a 12 point, 11 rebound double double (leading the team with three offensive rebounds), but it was important in not extending the game without Turner. Turner struggled against Marcin Gortat, but had a big game himself with 20 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.
Jeff Teague joined both George and Turner with 23 points and 10 assists, getting the better in his head-to-head matchup with John Wall. Teague led the Pacers with 7-7 from the free throw line, attacking well. Off the bench, both Al Jefferson and C.J. Miles reached double figures with 10.
The Pacers, still without Monta Ellis and Rodney Stuckey, played a short seven man rotation that forced 38 minutes and more on George, Young, and Teague. With their struggles not only on the road, but on the second night of back-to-backs, this could be a problem with the Pacers playing tomorrow night against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
With the Eastern Conference standings gridlocked from 5-8, the Pacers (currently 8th) will have to fight through any fatigue in hopes of securing their first three game winning streak of the season. The Knicks may be without Derrick Rose, but will have plenty to contend with even if he doesn’t play.