Pacers Dominate, Secure Big Win Over Hornets
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 144-117, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday evening.
The Pacers and the Hornets collided with each team's season on the line, but the Pacers were completely dominant as soon as the game started and quickly jumped out to a 40-24 lead in the first quarter -- that'd set the tone for the rest of the game. Indiana wouldn't step the foot off the gas, though, and they won the next two quarters as well, 29-21 and 39-33, respectively, so Indiana built a huge lead with just 12 minutes left on the clock. The Hornets won the final quarter by a slim three-point margin (39-36), but that wasn't enough to mount a potential comeback. The Pacers won comfortably and now they're just one game away from reaching the postseason, while the Hornets have been eliminated.
Oshae Brissett continued his excellent run of form and led the Pacers with 23 points and five rebounds, while Domantas Sabonis registered 14 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists across 33 minutes. Doug McDermott delivered 21 points, while Malcolm Brogdon mustered 16 points and eight assists. T.J. McConnell had 17 points off the bench, while Goga Bitadze and Kelan Martin each had 14 points.
Miles Bridges led the way for the Hornets with 23 points and eight rebounds while also adding four assists. Terry Rozier had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while LaMelo Ball posted 14 points and four dimes while shooting just 4-for-14 from the field. Cody Zeller was perfect from the field and went 7-for-7 while scoring 17 points across 28 minutes off the bench, and Malik Monk delivered 13 points.
The Pacers and the Hornets collided with each team's season on the line, but the Pacers were completely dominant as soon as the game started and quickly jumped out to a 40-24 lead in the first quarter -- that'd set the tone for the rest of the game. Indiana wouldn't step the foot off the gas, though, and they won the next two quarters as well, 29-21 and 39-33, respectively, so Indiana built a huge lead with just 12 minutes left on the clock. The Hornets won the final quarter by a slim three-point margin (39-36), but that wasn't enough to mount a potential comeback. The Pacers won comfortably and now they're just one game away from reaching the postseason, while the Hornets have been eliminated.
Oshae Brissett continued his excellent run of form and led the Pacers with 23 points and five rebounds, while Domantas Sabonis registered 14 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists across 33 minutes. Doug McDermott delivered 21 points, while Malcolm Brogdon mustered 16 points and eight assists. T.J. McConnell had 17 points off the bench, while Goga Bitadze and Kelan Martin each had 14 points.
Miles Bridges led the way for the Hornets with 23 points and eight rebounds while also adding four assists. Terry Rozier had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while LaMelo Ball posted 14 points and four dimes while shooting just 4-for-14 from the field. Cody Zeller was perfect from the field and went 7-for-7 while scoring 17 points across 28 minutes off the bench, and Malik Monk delivered 13 points.
Tatum Leads Celtics With 50 In Play-In Win
By Dan Bruno
The Boston Celtics defeated the visiting Washington Wizards, 118-100, at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
Jayson Tatum poured in 50 points to lead the Celtics in the play-in win to secure seventh place in the East. The Celtics got a strong strong start with a, 27-21, advantage after one quarter, but the Wizards picked up the pace in the second and rallied to a two-point edge by halftime. However, the Celtics came out on fire in the third quarter, where they poured in 38 points and claimed a 10-point lead heading into the final frame. The Wizards cut it to seven, early in the fourth, but the Celtics left nothing to chance and charged to the finish for the convincing, 18-point lead.
Kemba Walker had a solid outing with 29 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while Tristan Thompson logged 12 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Celtics shot 39 percent from the field, including 15-of-45 from long range.
Meanwhile, Bradley Beal was the high-point man for the Wizards, with 22 points on 10-of-25 shooting. Russell Westbrook totaled 20 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks, while Ish Smith chipped in 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, off the bench. The Wizards shot 43 percent from the field, including just 3-of-21 from deep.
The Wizards will have one more chance at the eighth seed, as they will go on to face the Pacers.
Jayson Tatum poured in 50 points to lead the Celtics in the play-in win to secure seventh place in the East. The Celtics got a strong strong start with a, 27-21, advantage after one quarter, but the Wizards picked up the pace in the second and rallied to a two-point edge by halftime. However, the Celtics came out on fire in the third quarter, where they poured in 38 points and claimed a 10-point lead heading into the final frame. The Wizards cut it to seven, early in the fourth, but the Celtics left nothing to chance and charged to the finish for the convincing, 18-point lead.
Kemba Walker had a solid outing with 29 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while Tristan Thompson logged 12 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Celtics shot 39 percent from the field, including 15-of-45 from long range.
Meanwhile, Bradley Beal was the high-point man for the Wizards, with 22 points on 10-of-25 shooting. Russell Westbrook totaled 20 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks, while Ish Smith chipped in 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, off the bench. The Wizards shot 43 percent from the field, including just 3-of-21 from deep.
The Wizards will have one more chance at the eighth seed, as they will go on to face the Pacers.