Bold statement first: a late surge by the Wizards sealed a 112-105 victory over the Pacers, snapping Washington’s three-game skid and reshaping the mood after a shaky stretch. And this is the part most people miss: even without a full return from Trae Young, Washington found momentum in a key fourth quarter to pull away.
In Washington, Bub Carrington and Anthony Gill each poured in 13 points, fueling a decisive fourth-quarter push that overwhelmed Indiana. Kadary Richmond and Jaden Hardy also contributed 13 apiece, helping the Wizards steady themselves after a tense finish. The Pacers, meanwhile, were led by Jarace Walker with 19 points and 13 rebounds, but despite his effort, Indiana dropped to 2-3 on a grueling six-game road swing that spanned the All-Star break.
Indiana got strong production from Bilal Coulibaly and Tristan Vukcevic with 12 points apiece in the opener of back-to-back games against Washington. Taelon Peter contributed 16 points, and Jay Huff and Ben Sheppard each added 15. A rough night for the Pacers was intensified by injuries: Kam Jones left with back soreness and Aaron Nesmith exited with an ankle sprain by halftime.
The Wizards carried a 17-point cushion into the third period, but Indiana countered with a 14-3 burst to snatch a 92-91 lead early in the fourth. Washington answered with a 14-0 run later, effectively sealing the win. Carrington connected on a 17-foot jumper and a top-of-the-arc three during that decisive stretch, with Gill starting the sequence on a layup and finishing with a baseline three that put the final nail in the Pacers’ hopes, making it 110-97.
Upcoming: Indiana visits Washington for Friday’s rematch.
Source: AP News
