Nov 24, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) dribbles as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. Indiana Pacers won 123 – 106. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
WASHINGTON — Forward Paul George scored a season-high 40 points as the surging Indiana Pacers sank a franchise-record 19 3-pointers in their 123-106 win over the Washington Wizards Tuesday night.
Forward C.J. Miles established a career high with 32 points and combined with George to dominate from distance. Indiana shot 73.1 percent (19 of 26) from beyond the arc, with their starting forwards doing the damage.
Miles, who set a season high by halftime with 22 points, made 8 of 9 3-pointers, while George finished 7 of 8 and 14 of 19 overall for the Pacers (9-5). The duo combined to make their first 11 3-point attempts.
Indiana has won nine of its last 11 games, including three straight by a combined 64 points.
The loss ended Washington’s three-game winning streak.
Guard Gary Neal scored 23 points and guard Bradley Beal had 20 for the Wizards (6-5). Washington kept pace until Indiana’s 12-4 run late in the third quarter put the visitors up 93-81. The lead never dipped below nine points in the fourth quarter. Guard John Wall added 18 points.
George, who missed all but six games last season after suffering a gruesome leg injury playing with USA Basketball in 2014, started the decisive run with five straight points. Scorching from all angles, he set a career best with his 10th straight game with at least 20 points.
The Pacers and Wizards have undergone notable lineup and tactical changes since meeting in the 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals. Instead of classic big-man lineups, both teams are embracing the small ball era.
Neal made five of Washington’s 13 3-pointers, but the Wizards shot 4 of 16 in the second half.
After starting interior options David West and Roy Hibbert for several seasons, Indiana now begins with four perimeter players. The Pacers entered Tuesday third in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage at 38.8 percent.
George and Miles finished 10 of 10 combined from beyond the arc in the first half and the Pacers sank 12 of 15 while shooting 60 percent overall from the field
Yet the Wizards only trailed 33-31 after the opening period and 62-61 at halftime. Washington made nine 3-pointers, including three from Neal, who scored 13 points in the second quarter.
Over his last four games, Miles is averaging 23.0 points while shooting 60.6 percent (20 of 33) from beyond the arc.
NOTES: Pacers G George Hill returned to the lineup after missing three games with an upper respiratory infection. … Wizards F Nene played despite missing Monday’s practice with a sore left calf. … Indiana coach Frank Vogel was asked pregame about the difference when the Pacers use interior or perimeter based lineups. “There’s room for improvement in both areas,” Vogel said, “but I think there have been times where the spread lineup has looked really scary, really good. … Washington starts a two-game road swing Wednesday in Charlotte with the first of four meetings against the Hornets. … Indiana returns home to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday. The Pacers lost 96-95 in Chicago on Nov. 16.
