Sometimes a desperate team in the playoffs is a dangerous one.
Just ask the Indiana Pacers.
Marcin Gortat and John Wall were simply sensational Tuesday in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-79 annihilation of the Pacers in a must-win Game 5 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Gortat recorded a double-double by halftime and finished with 31 points and 16 rebounds, and Wall scored 17 of his 27 points in a third quarter that saw the Wizards build a commanding 24-point lead.
The Wizards improved to 5-1 on the road in the postseason thanks to an incredible 62-23 advantage on the glass. They nearly had more offensive boards (18) than Indiana's rebounding total.
Indiana shot just 39.0 percent from the floor, with Paul George following up his 39-point Game 4 performance with a 15-point dud on 5-of-15 shooting.
Roy Hibbert regressed to the tune of four points and two rebounds, while David West led the club with 17 points in an otherwise forgettable showing by the East's No. 1 seed.
Indiana's three consecutive wins that put the Wizards' backs against the wall is suddenly an afterthought as this Eastern Conference semifinal series shifts back to Washington for Game 6 on Thursday.
[SportsNetwork.com]
