SUMMARY
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Bradley Beal scored 25 points as the Washington Wizards steamrolled the visiting Indiana Pacers, 142-115, on Thursday night, May 20 (Friday, May 21, Manila time) in the final Eastern Conference play-in contest to reach the playoffs.
Russell Westbrook added 18 points, 15 assists, and 8 rebounds as Washington earned the No. 8 seed and captured its first postseason berth since the 2017-2018 season.
The Wizards will face the top-seeded 76ers in the first round, beginning Sunday in Philadelphia.
The setback eliminated the Pacers and ended the franchise’s streak of five straight playoff appearances.
Malcolm Brogdon scored 24 points and Domantas Sabonis recorded 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists before fouling out for Indiana.
Beal made four three-pointers and also had 5 rebounds and 4 assists while playing 28 minutes. He sat out the final 15-plus minutes of the lopsided contest to rest his strained left hamstring.
Washington’s Rui Hachimura scored 18 points, Daniel Gafford had 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots, and Raul Neto added 14 points. Anthony Gill had 10 points.
The Wizards went 3-0 in the regular season against the Pacers while averaging 139.7 points.
Washington was clicking again Thursday, shooting 58.1% from the field, including 14-of-28 from three-point range. The Wizards held a 52-40 rebounding edge.
Doug McDermott and Kelan Martin added 13 points apiece for the Pacers, who shot 41% from the field and were 15-of-41 (36.6%) from behind the arc. Caris LeVert again sat out due to health and safety protocols.
The score was tied at 34 early in the second quarter when the Wizards broke it open with 16 consecutive points. Robin Lopez scored six points during the burst, including the inside hoop that capped it with 6:49 left in the half.
Washington led 66-52 at the break. The lead was 17 after Brogdon made two free throws for Indiana with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter before the Wizards blitzed the Pacers, 17-4, over the next 2:51 to assure they were headed to the playoffs.
Beal converted a three-point play and drained a three-pointer in a span of 28 seconds to push the lead to 25. He drilled another trey to end the spurt and give Washington a 98-68 advantage with 4:07 left in the period.
The lead reached 32 later in the third before the Wizards took a 114-83 lead into the final stanza. Washington’s biggest lead was 38. – Rappler.com
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