|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – There was no hiding it Monday night: The
Indiana Pacers looked playoff ready.
|  | | Pacers forward Jonathan Bender came off the bench to help Indiana on Monday. |
Jalen Rose scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Travis Best
added 11 points and seven assists, and the Pacers put five players
in double figures as they routed Washington 100-78 and improved
their playoff prospects.
"We're playing good basketball, and we're peaking at the right
time," Indiana coach Isiah Thomas said. "Everyone's contributing
and every time someone goes in, he does something positive. That's
what you need in the playoffs."
It's starting to look as if that's what the Pacers might need
next week when the first round begins.
The victory Monday, coupled with Boston's 108-95 loss at
Philadelphia, gave the Pacers a 2Y-game lead on the Celtics for the
Eastern Conference's final playoff spot. Indiana has five games
remaining, including one at home Friday night against Boston.
"We want to win all of them," Thomas said. "We've still got
to go out and play well. You never know what can happen in this
league. Teams get hot, players get hot."
Few, though, are as hot right now as the Pacers, who have won
four straight overall and eight straight at home.
What's impressed Thomas, though, is the way the Pacers are
winning, and Monday night was a perfect example.
Rose turned in one of his better games of the season, and he was
far from alone. Al Harrington had 14 points and three steals,
Reggie Miller added 12 points despite playing only 27 minutes and
the backups were essential.
Indiana got eight points and 11 rebounds from Jeff Foster, 11
points and five rebounds from Austin Croshere and 11 points from
Best as the Pacers' reservers outscored Washington's 49-24.
"Jeff Foster, Austin Croshere, Travis Best, those guys are
bringing it every night," Rose said. "Tyus Edney and Jonathan
Bender also brought it tonight. That's what we needed."
What the Pacers got early, though, was a good dose of Richard
Hamilton.
He fueled Washington in the early minutes as the Wizards broke
to an 11-4 lead. But Hamilton, who finished with 21 points,
couldn't keep the Wizards in charge by himself.
Indiana raced back, tying the score at 23 when Best hit an
18-footer just before the end of the quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, the Pacers used a 7-0 run to
take control and broke away with a 9-2 third-period spurt, during
which Rose, Best and Miller accounted for all the Pacers' points.
That made it 68-51.
"Indiana sapped our emotion," Washington coach Leonard
Hamilton said. "All year we have fought regardless of our
circumstances. Tonight, we played a team that played with more
emotion."
And with more on the line.
This time, instead of allowing the Wizards to challenge, the
Pacers finished them off. They continued to extend the lead
throughout the the fourth quarter -- and walked away confident they
proved they belong in the NBA playoffs.
"Through it all we stayed positive. We stayed focused. We
understood what we needed to make the playoffs," Rose said. "And
we are going to make the playoffs."
Game notes
Christian Laettner added 18 points for the Wizards. ...
Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal suffered a bruised right knee early
in the second quarter. The Pacers said he could have returned, but
did not. ... The Pacers kept the Wizards' scoring tandem of
Hamilton and Courtney Alexander under control. After combining for
65 points on March 29 and 59 points on April 7, they were limited
to a total of 29 points Monday. ... The Pacers are 12-11 against
the Atlantic Division.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Indiana Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 108
Boston 95
Detroit 81
Atlanta 69
New York 113
Charlotte 98
Indiana 100
Washington 78
Utah 96
Houston 81
|
