Paul Brandley covers the Washington Wizards, who moved to 5-2 with a solid win over the injury-riddled Indiana Pacers. Most of the Wizards shot over 50% and had a great defensive presence.

1. NOVEMBER 10, 2014
Wizards Move to 5-2 with Win
Over Pacers
By Paul Brandley

2. For the second time in four days, the Washington
Wizards have downed the Indiana Pacers. By a
score of 97-90, the Wizards edged the Pacers to
pickup the back end of a back-to-back, after they
lost for the first time in 5 games to the Toronto
Raptors, 103-84.

3. The Wizards survived a dismal offensive night from
veteran Paul Pierce, who shot 2-13, including 0-5 from
behind the three point line. Luckily, seven of the Wizards’
other nine players who played last night made up for his
struggles by shooting 50% or higher.

4. Notably, John Wall had
eighteen points and four
assists, Kevin Seraphim
had thirteen points off a
6-8 shooting night, and
Nene had a seventeen
point, five assist night.

5. On defense, the Wizards
showcased how their youth
and athleticism allows them to
outplay other teams’ more
traditional offenses. The
Wizards combined for four
blocked shots and eight steals.
Four of those steals came from
speedy John Wall.

6. It seems that the Pacers are still struggling to find
their way after a disappointing end to their season
and a number of cornerstone players from last
year’s not being in their current lineup. During the
offseason, the Pacers lost breakout shooting guard
Lance Stephenson to free agency (signed with the
Charlotte Hornets), Paul George to injury (broken
leg), George Hill (knee contusion), and David West
(sprained ankle).

7. That’s four of five players from a starting lineup that
was supposed to be the East’s answer to Lebron’s
Miami Heat.

8. (just one of these guys)

9. To add insult to injury (pun fully intended), after just
eleven minutes into Saturday’s game, center Roy Hibbert
knocked knees with teammate Solomon Hill and did not
return to the game. Luckily for the Pacers, Hibbert’s
status for Monday’s game has since been upgraded to
‘probable’, so it looks like he’s avoided a long-term injury.
Solomon Hill did his best to make up for taking Hibbert
out of the game, racking up twenty-eight points, six
rebounds and three steals in 43 minutes of work while
shooting over 50% from the field.

10. The Wizards exploded out of the gates, going into the
second half with a 54-35 advantage, but went cold and
let the Pacers back into the game late. I had mentioned
turnovers as being a major concern for this young team
and tonight showed us why, with John Wall and Nene
combining for nine. If they can keep their turnovers down
and keep winning the rebound battle (they beat the
Pacers 49-38), this will be a very dangerous team come
playoff time.

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