Indiana Pacers: Bold predictions for do-or-die game against the Wizards

The Indiana Pacers defeat the Washington Wizards in a thriller, clinching a playoff spot and making it to national TV

Looks like fourth time’s the charm for the Blue and Gold.

After going 0-3 against the Wizards in the regular season, their last crack at Washington will end up giving the Blue and Gold their first victory over them this season and the highly-contested eighth spot in the East. Behind Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon and co., the Indiana Pacers will head to the playoffs for the sixth straight season.

As the penultimate game in the play-in tournament, expect a thrilling and high-scoring affair, with the Pacers managing to squeak past the Wizards thanks to Sabonis’ post brilliance, Brogdon’s barrage of patented reverse layups and some unexpected clutch scoring from future star Brissett. Indianapolis will go crazy and draw up some wild playoff upset scenarios, check their Vegas title odds for pipe dream purposes and forget the fact that the team will be out of the lottery.

And for what purpose, you say? Of course, this cultivates in a blood-curdling series against the first-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. However, in this turbulent season where small victories have been elusive, no one will be crying in Indy for the short-term, though they probably should be in the long-term. But that’s a story for another day.

The Indiana Pacers will live for another day ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t̶-̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶x̶i̶t̶.