Sharp-shooting Wizards score 80 in half, rout Pacers 127-113
WASHINGTON (AP) Bradley Beal scored 32 points, Kristaps Porzingis and Monte Morris added 17 apiece and the Washington Wizards shot 70% from the field through the first three quarters of their 127-113 rout of the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
Washington led 80-57 after its highest-scoring half of the season. The Wizards gave up the first 10 points of the third quarter, bringing back memories of a couple recent games in which they blew 20-point leads, but they steadied themselves quickly and led 104-88 heading into the fourth.
Washington was able to substitute liberally toward the end - 13 players appeared for the Wizards - and a late slide dropped their final shooting percentage down to 64%, costing them a franchise record but setting a season high by a comfortable margin.
''We talked about it at halftime - we're not going to shoot 70% all game,'' Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. ''But we still shot pretty well. That was kind of the messaging. Don't get complacent with just making shots.''
Tyrese Haliburton scored 21 points and Myles Turner had 20 for Indiana, which has lost 15 of its last 17.
Washington, which pulled even with Chicago for ninth place in the Eastern Conference, was without Kyle Kuzma because of a sprained left ankle.
The Wizards had 18 turnovers to Indiana's eight and allowed 27 second-chance points, but none of that made much difference with Washington shooting such an incredible percentage. The Wizards shot 73% from 2-point range, 46% from 3 and 86% on free throws.
The Wizards went 15 of 20 from the field in the first quarter - including 12 of 13 inside the arc - and led 37-29. It took a little while before Washington really broke the game open, but an 18-4 run late in the first half made it 80-55.
The Wizards have won two in a row following a three-game losing streak in which they led by at least 20 in losses to Portland and Brooklyn. They traded Rui Hachimura recently and acquired Kendrick Nunn, but it was otherwise a quiet trade deadline for Washington.
''I think our biggest thing is being healthy,'' Beal said. ''This is our team. You can't make any adjustments now. You've got to ride it out throughout the rest of the year.''
CONSISTENCY
Often when a team shoots an unusually high percentage early, it regresses dramatically at some point, but the Wizards shot 75% in the first quarter, 71% in the second and 62% in the third. They finally dipped to 48% in the fourth, missing their final four attempts of the game.
TIP-INS
Pacers: George Hill and Jordan Nwora, acquired Thursday from Milwaukee in a trade, are expected to suit up for the Pacers next week. ... Daniel Theis (right knee) did not play.
Wizards: Daniel Gafford scored 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting. ... Before Saturday, Washington's top shooting percentage this season was 58% at Philadelphia on Nov. 2. The franchise record is 65.3% on April 8, 2015, also at Philadelphia.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Utah on Monday night.
Wizards: At Golden State on Monday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Myles Turner vs. Kristaps Porzingis (Monte Morris gains possession) | ||
| 11:38 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point stepback jump shot | 0-2 |
| 11:11 |  | Andrew Nembhard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:09 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:00 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:50 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving floating jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 2-2 |
| 10:32 | | Bradley Beal misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:30 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:24 | | +3 | Buddy Hield makes three point stepback jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 5-2 |
| 10:01 | | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 5-4 |
| 9:42 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point alley-oop layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 7-4 |
| 9:24 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point stepback jump shot | 7-6 |
| 9:15 | | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:12 | | Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound | ||
| 9:10 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:07 | | Monte Morris defensive rebound | ||
| 8:56 | | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point pullup jump shot | 7-8 |
| 8:39 | | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:36 | | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | ||
| 8:33 | | +3 | Bradley Beal makes three point running jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 7-11 |
| 8:19 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving layup | 9-11 |
| 8:08 | | Bradley Beal turnover (bad pass) (Buddy Hield steals) | ||
| 8:01 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:58 | | Monte Morris defensive rebound | ||
| 7:34 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 9-13 |
| 7:14 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point driving layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 11-13 |
| 7:03 | | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point driving floating jump shot | 11-15 |
| 6:53 | | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point driving layup | 13-15 |
| 6:41 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point cutting layup (Monte Morris assists) | 13-17 |
| 6:41 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Bradley Beal draws the foul) | ||
| 6:41 | | Wizards 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:41 | | +1 | Bradley Beal makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 13-18 |
| 6:26 | | Daniel Gafford blocks Aaron Nesmith's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 6:23 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:16 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point reverse layup (Bradley Beal assists) | 13-20 |
| 6:07 | | +3 | Tyrese Haliburton makes three point jump shot | 16-20 |
| 5:44 | | Deni Avdija turnover (lost ball) (Buddy Hield steals) | ||
| 5:38 | | +3 | Buddy Hield makes three point running pullup jump shot (Bennedict Mathurin assists) | 19-20 |
| 5:34 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point alley-oop dunk (Monte Morris assists) | 19-22 |
| 5:06 | | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point pullup jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 21-22 |
| 4:46 | | Bradley Beal turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Jackson steals) | ||
| 4:42 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point running layup (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 23-22 |
| 4:42 | | Wizards 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:23 | | Kendrick Nunn misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:21 | | Pacers defensive rebound | ||
| 4:04 | | Aaron Nesmith misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:03 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 3:56 | | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Deni Avdija assists) | 23-25 |
| 3:46 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point floating jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 25-25 |
| 3:27 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:25 | | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:22 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point running dunk (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 27-25 |
| 3:00 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point turnaround hook shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 27-27 |
| 3:00 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 3:00 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 27-28 |
| 2:45 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving hook shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 29-28 |
| 2:35 | | Bennedict Mathurin shooting foul (Delon Wright draws the foul) | ||
| 2:35 | | +1 | Delon Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-29 |
| 2:35 | | +1 | Delon Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-30 |
| 2:15 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:10 | | Isaiah Jackson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Jalen Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:02 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 1:52 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point driving layup (Kendrick Nunn assists) | 29-32 |
| 1:43 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 1:40 | | Jalen Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 1:40 | | Kristaps Porzingis blocks Jalen Smith's two point putback layup | ||
| 1:40 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 1:33 | | Deni Avdija blocks Bennedict Mathurin's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 1:33 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 1:31 | | T.J. McConnell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:25 | | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | ||
| 1:06 | | Delon Wright turnover (bad pass) (Tyrese Haliburton steals) | ||
| 1:01 | | T.J. McConnell turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:50 | | +2 | Kendrick Nunn makes two point driving finger roll layup (Daniel Gafford assists) | 29-34 |
| 0:39 | | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (lost ball) (Kendrick Nunn steals) | ||
| 0:33 | | +3 | Delon Wright makes three point running jump shot (Kendrick Nunn assists) | 29-37 |
| 0:25 | | Daniel Gafford blocks Isaiah Jackson's two point driving dunk | ||
| 0:21 | | Kendrick Nunn defensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Corey Kispert misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:37 | | Daniel Gafford shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 11:37 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-37 |
| 11:37 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-37 |
| 11:27 | | +3 | Deni Avdija makes three point pullup jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists) | 31-40 |
| 11:00 | | Daniel Gafford blocks Jalen Smith's two point driving layup | ||
| 10:57 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 10:57 | | Deni Avdija turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:47 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 10:45 | | Kendrick Nunn defensive rebound | ||
| 10:36 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point dunk (Kendrick Nunn assists) | 31-42 |
| 10:35 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:19 | | Myles Turner misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 10:17 | | T.J. McConnell offensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 33-42 |
| 10:00 | | Kendrick Nunn misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:58 | | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | ||
| 9:52 | | +3 | Chris Duarte makes three point jump shot (Bennedict Mathurin assists) | 36-42 |
| 9:27 | | Andrew Nembhard personal foul (Deni Avdija draws the foul) | ||
| 9:23 | | +3 | Corey Kispert makes three point jump shot (Delon Wright assists) | 36-45 |
| 9:02 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point stepback jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 38-45 |
| 8:47 | | +2 | Corey Kispert makes two point driving floating jump shot (Deni Avdija assists) | 38-47 |
| 8:28 | | Deni Avdija shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 8:28 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-47 |
| 8:28 | | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 8:25 | | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | Myles Turner shooting foul (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | ||
| 8:16 | | Daniel Gafford misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:16 | | Wizards offensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | +1 | Daniel Gafford makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-48 |
| 8:05 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving floating jump shot | 41-48 |
| 8:05 | | Deni Avdija shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | ||
| 8:05 | | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 42-48 |
| 7:52 | | Daniel Gafford offensive foul (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | ||
| 7:52 | | Daniel Gafford turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:35 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point driving hook shot (Bennedict Mathurin assists) | 44-48 |
| 7:20 | | +3 | Kendrick Nunn makes three point stepback jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 44-51 |
| 7:09 | | Chris Duarte turnover (lost ball) (Bradley Beal steals) | ||
| 6:57 | | T.J. McConnell shooting foul (Delon Wright draws the foul) | ||
| 6:57 | | +1 | Delon Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-52 |
| 6:57 | | +1 | Delon Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-53 |
| 6:34 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 6:32 | | Bennedict Mathurin offensive rebound | ||
| 6:32 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point tip layup | 46-53 |
| 6:18 | | Buddy Hield personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 6:15 | | +3 | Kendrick Nunn makes three point jump shot (Deni Avdija assists) | 46-56 |
| 6:03 | | Andrew Nembhard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:00 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 5:45 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point layup (Kendrick Nunn assists) | 46-58 |
| 5:45 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:28 | | Andrew Nembhard misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 5:26 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 5:05 | | Wizards turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 4:54 | | Aaron Nesmith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:52 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 4:48 | | Deni Avdija misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:44 | | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | ||
| 4:42 | | +2 | Deni Avdija makes two point cutting layup (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 46-60 |
| 4:34 | | Aaron Nesmith misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:32 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 4:14 | | Bradley Beal misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:11 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:03 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 4:03 | | Isaiah Jackson offensive rebound | ||
| 3:58 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point tip dunk | 48-60 |
| 3:46 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point cutting layup (Kendrick Nunn assists) | 48-62 |
| 3:39 | | +3 | Buddy Hield makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Jackson assists) | 51-62 |
| 3:16 | | Isaiah Jackson personal foul (Monte Morris draws the foul) | ||
| 3:16 | | +1 | Monte Morris makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 51-63 |
| 3:16 | | +1 | Monte Morris makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 51-64 |
| 3:03 | | Chris Duarte misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:57 | | Corey Kispert defensive rebound | ||
| 2:49 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point pullup jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 51-66 |
| 2:48 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:36 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 53-66 |
| 2:21 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:20 | | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | ||
| 2:20 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point putback layup | 53-68 |
| 2:11 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:07 | | Corey Kispert defensive rebound | ||
| 1:59 |