Pacers can’t be stopped by Wizardry, get past Washington

The Indiana Pacers tried to blow it, but they were able to hold on and win in Washington

The Indiana Pacers tried to kill me tonight. That is the only explanation I have for the last two minutes of the game.

If that was the team’s goal, they failed, because they held on to win and I survived.

The Pacers had a 15 point halftime lead, but they let it get away from them in the later parts of the third quarter. Then they got the advantage back to 13, but the Wiz cut it to 2 with 6 minutes to go in the game. But the Pacers found a way to hold on to the game and win.

Some of it was due to clutch heroics from Darren Collison. He had 11 points in the final 5:09 of this game and his scoring was a crucial part of the Pacers victory.

A balanced attack was key for the Pacers in this game. 7 different players scored in double figures, and Kyle O’Quinn was just two points away from making it 8. Thaddeus Young led the way with 22, but everybody played a part in scoring the ball in this one.

Speaking of O’Quinn, he is fitting in a-ok as the starting center. He also had my favorite play of the game as he dove into the stands for an assist… and he stayed in his seat to watch.

Kyle O’Quinn is a boss

When your third center can step in and start and casually drop an 8 point, 6 rebound, 5 assist stat line, you have a special player for your third string center. O’Quinn did just that, and just one night after grabbing double-digit rebounds.

You sign a guy like O’Quinn to be injury insurance, and he has been sublime in that role. He made the first basket of the game tonight and kept things rolling the whole way.

This Wesley Matthews guy is pretty good…

14 points and 3 assists don’t look like a ton. But Wesley Matthews proved once again how valuable he can be in this game.

His defense on Bradley Beal was sensational in the first half. He had a few clutch buckets and overall his play down the stretch was great. He only turned it over once. Matthews played another great game and was crucial in the win, and he reminded us again that he can get buckets.

McDermott, doing stuff

Two straight great games from Doug McDermott. He hit 4/5 from downtown tonight, something that had escaped him just before the All-Star break. Having him return to form from long range will really help the second unit over the final month of the year.

Grades:

The Pacers next travel to Detroit for a Central Division battle with the Pistons on Monday.