Both teams certainly started right where they left off. Washington jumped out to an 8-0 run, while Indy struggled to shoot and couldn't grab a board to save a life.
The Pacers started the game 0 for 4 with 2 turnovers before David West finally hit a jumper after a timeout to make it 8-2.
This was after the referees missed 2 possession calls in Indiana's favor in the first 3 minutes.
The first quarter belonged to each and every Wizard, big or small. They had 6 blocks in the period alone, with 4 different players being held accountable, while also forcing 5 turnovers. That's the infectious team defense fans are accustomed to seeing.
Ariza came out firing, ending the quarter with a huge 3 to give him 11 and 4 boards. Beal was quiet with 2 and 2, but John Wall let his services be known, handing out 5 assists with a quiet 6 points and 2 rebounds.
Things changed when the second quarter started.
The reason? Andre Miller. Coming in for John Wall, Miller is a liability in every aspect of the game. He's slow, can't drive, is a scared shooter, throws suspect passes, and turns the ball over.
A 9-0 Pacers run before a Wizards timeout was countered by a 8-2 Washington burst ending with a 3rd foul on Hibbert with 6:35 left in the half.
Ariza ended up 5/5 from downtown for the half; the Wiz started 6/6. Their starters got it done, with 54 of their 56 points, and left midway with a 13 point lead.
Clutch three point shooting, domination on the glass, and hustle plays set the pace for Washington in the first half.
The second half brought intensity from Indiana, and Lance Stephenson stepped it up with 9, bringing new life to his team that was down only 7 heading into the final period. It would have been closer, but Drew Gooden stepped in for Nene, who picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls with 10:00 left in the 3rd. Gooden almost had a double double in the period alone, finishing the game with 12 points and 13 off the glass in only 18 minutes. What a wily veteran, having the nerve to come off the bench like that and D up David West, who is actually a year older than Drew but clearly more agile.
The Pacers in the 4th were knocking on the door, but the Wizards always found an answer.
A Bradley Beal 3.
A Nene dunk.
The Pacers led for 0:15 the whole game when it was 31-30. Despite this, they cut it to a 7 point game late in the fourth. It remained 92-84 for what seemed like an eternity, as Beal, Wall, and Gortat all missed crucial free throws.
But shut down defense gave the Wiz the time they needed to collect themselves at the line, allowing them to finally hit some free points. They were needed, too, as George Hill decided to come down a few possessions in a row and known down quick, heavily contested threes to make it as close as 5.
In the end, the Wiz closed on the road for the fourth consecutive time this postseason, winning 102-96. Slightly off from my prediction of 99-92, but the result is the same and satisfies me, nonetheless.
Boards: Wizards, 53-36
Off. Boards: Wizards, 16-7
Assists: Wizards, 23-16
Fouls: Pacers, 26-23
Free Throws: even, 22 apiece (Pacers with higher % -- 81.5 vs 71)
Game 2 Wednesday evening will test Indiana's character. They know the Wizards now, and so does the nation.
Prediction: 98-95, Wizards
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