In a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Semifinals the Washington Wizards inched out an overtime win against an undermanned Indiana Pacers team by the score of 96-94. The victory gives the Wizards their fourth straight win after they dropped their season opener on the road to the Miami Heat. The Wizards, a team coming into the year with lofty playoff expectations, were expected to win handily verses a Pacers team dealing with a laundry list of injuries.
With C.J. Watson and George Hill nursing injuries, Wizards point guard John Wall had an opportunity to dominate the floor, but it would be journeyman point guard Donald Sloan who had a career day for the Pacers. Sloan scored a career-high 31 points and kept Indiana in the game. With power forward David West out with injury, the Pacers got key contributions from forwards Solomon Hill and Chris Copeland, scoring 14 and 19 points respectively. Despite relying on role players and backups, Indiana never let the game out of hand and made the Wizards work for the win.
Wall led Washington on offense with 31 points and 10 assists, his fourth double-double through the first five games. With the absence of Bradley Beal, shooting guard Garrett Temple continued his surprising start with 16 points and seven rebounds. Temple's offensive contributions have been a pleasant surprise for the Wizards as he has provided a consistent perimeter shot, shooting four-of-seven from the three-point line.
"They gave us all they could handle. They came in injured, like a wounded animal, but they gave us their best shot, and we were able to protect our home," said Temple.
Temple has gone from averaging 1.8 points per game last season, to assuming the starting shooting guard role and scoring 13.8 points per game in the first five games of the year.
"It gives us options. Guys like Otto [Porter], Glen [Rice Jr.], and [Garret] Temple are getting valuable minutes with Beal out. In the long run it looks like this could help us," said Wittman
Washington seemed to take control of the game at the end of the first half, ending the final 7:18 of the second quarter on a 16-6 run, going into halftime leading the Pacers 46-41.
With Indiana playing mostly backups, the game looked like it would get out of hand when the Wizards went up by 12 with 4:37 left in the third quarter, but Sloan and the Pacers continued to make tough shots and kept Washington on edge. Both teams struggled to find a consistent shot, with the Wizards and Pacers shooting an underwhelming 34-91 (37.4%) and 35-90 (38.9%) from the field respectively.
With the ball in the final seconds, tied at 84, Washington turned to 37-year old small forward Paul Pierce to take the possible game winning shot, but Pierce's shot would not go, forcing overtime. In their second game in as many nights and clearly showing fatigue, Wall willed the Wizards to victory in overtime with seven points in the extra frame.
In front of a national television audience and against an inferior opponent, the Wizards needed to prove they could win a game they were supposed to win, situations this team struggled with last season. With Washington's offense struggling most of the night, it was their defense that helped the Wizards grind out the win. Winning with defense is something Wizards head coach Randy Wittman preaches every day
"This was another game where our defense won the game for us. It was a game where no one got in a serious flow and we were able to pull it out, so there is a real positive," said Wittman.
At 4-1, the Wizards are off to their best start since 2005 when they started the year 5-1. With the Miami Heat falling to the Charlotte Hornets tonight, Washington moved into first place in the Southeast Division. The Wizards have little time to soak in their sterling start, as they travel to Toronto to face the Raptors on Friday. After winning a game they were supposed to win, Washington will face their biggest test of the early season against a Raptors team that has also won four of their first five games.
The Pacers, meanwhile, will head to Boston to face the Celtics on Friday, November 7.