Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
If there ever seems like a right time to go on an All Star break… after tonight.. now is that time for the Wizards.
The Pacers snapped a two-game losing streak and head into the All-Star break with a 30-23 record, which keeps them at fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards have the NBA’s worst record at 9-45.
So how do we let this fourth quarter break down and another Jordan Poole 40 plus point wasted effort just pass by everyone? It’s going to be tough and something the Wizards can try and put behind them tonight and as well as the first half of the season and move forward with two new players and Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart joining after the break and see what this team really has overall.
Jordan Poole finished with 42 points which if tracking stats became the first player the Pacers have allowed to score more than 40 points in each of the past three games. Corey Kispert added 21 points. and guard Bub Carrington added 18.
Poole kept the Wizards in the game tonight and if it wasn’t for him, they may have lost in regulation.
For the Pacers, it was the Obi Toppin show in the second half. Toppin scored 17 points in the third quarter alone to keep the Pacers within striking distance of the Wizards. Benedict Mathurin scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime after making just 1 of 4 first-have field goals for two points.
The Pacers took a 131-122 lead on a Toppin 3-pointer with 1:26 to go and gave up back-to-back 3-pointers to make it somewhat of game again, but they again managed to hold the Wizards off with free throws.
After the game Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe was asked about the overtime period and how they couldn’t find the right scoring combo when they needed it.
“I think we got a couple good looks, but they keyed in on Jordan and it made it tough for him to get a wide-open shot from three when we needed it. Give the Pacers credit, they hit quite a few tough shots late in the fourth quarter that hurt us as well,” said Keefe.
