MANILA – The Washington Wizards occupied the last playoffs seat in the Eastern Conference after a 142-115 beating of Indiana Pacers this 2020-2021 National Basketball Association season play-in tournament at the Capital One Arena in Washington, Thursday.
Bradley Beal top-scored with 25 points including four three-point conversions, while Russell Westbrook fell short of triple-double with 18 points, 15 assists, and eight rebounds for the Wizards.
Rui Hachimura had 18 markers, while Daniel Gafford, Raul Neto, and Anthony Gill hit double figures on offense with 15, 14, and 10 markers, respectively, for the Washinton.
The victory made the Wizards earn the eighth and last playoffs seat in the East. They will face the top-seed Philadelphia 76ers in the best-of-seven first-round playoffs.
Both teams traded leads early in the game with the Pacers seizing a 27-24 lead on a triple by Doug McDermott, but conversions from Beal and Westbrook gave Wizards a 30-29 edge.
The Pacers were hanging around at 34-all in the second period before the Wizards created separation on inside baskets by Robin Lopez and Westbrook for a 66-52 halftime edge.
Washington continued its offensive outbursts in the third quarter via conversions from Westbrook, Beal, and Hachimura as the lead stretched to 114-83.
With Washington going to its reserves in the fourth quarter, Indiana scored consecutive hits but were not enough to turn the result around.
Malcolm Brogdon ended with 24 points, while Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Pacers.
The Pacers were shorthanded heading into the knockout match with the absence of injured TJ Warren (sore left foot) and Myles Turner (right foot). They are now eliminated from the playoffs’ contention.
BOX SCORE:
WASHINGTON 142 – Beal 25, Westbrook 18, Hachimura 18, Gafford 15, Neto 14, Gill 10, Lopez 9, Bertans 9, Smith 8, Hutchison 6, Len 4, Bonga 3, Matthews 3, Winston 0.
INDIANA 115 – Brogdon 24, Sabonis 19, McDermott 13, Martin 13, Stanley 11, Brissett 10, A. Holiday 7, J. Holiday 6, Sumner 5, McConnell 4, Brimah 3, Bitadze 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
30-29, 66-52, 114-83, 142-115./PN
