WASHINGTON - Just when it appeared that the intensity of a playoff run was getting to be too much for the Washington Wizards, they pull off a solid win over the Indiana Pacers. And the Pacers? They played so poorly that it made this weeks win over the Miami Heat look more like an aberration in some late-season doldrums. John Wall scored 20 points, and Marcin Gortat added 17 points and 12 rebounds Friday night as the Wizards avenged two of their biggest losses of the season, never trailing in a 91-78 win over the cold-shooting, turnover-prone Pacers. "Were at the point where we cant just get up for the Miamis or the Chicago Bulls and then come out and get doughnuts against the Wizards or these other teams," said David West, who committed four of Indianas 17 turnovers. "I just dont know if we are handling success and being out front the right way." The Heat beat the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, essentially negating Indianas victory over Miami on Wednesday in the standings. The Pacers lead is back to two games atop the Eastern Conference. "The game Wednesday doesnt mean anything if we dont get the one tonight, and were back at square one," Pacers guard George Hill said. "We gave up another game where we should have won." The Wizards, meanwhile, sit sixth in the East and are almost certainly playoff-bound for the first time since 2008, but their recent uninspired play had led to questions as to whether young players Wall and Bradley Beal had the mettle for a post-season push. Washington had lost four of five, with games featuring wild swings and deficits too big to make up. "Our intensity level for 48 minutes had waned," coach Randy Wittman said. "And wed lost that edge a little bit, in terms of we waited until we got down before we really played with effort and intensity." Not so Friday night against the Pacers, who are responsible for two of Washingtons three losses by 20-plus points this season. This was one of those prove-yourself wins that counts a little extra. "They had our number the first two games," Beal said. "They played way more physical than we did. They kind of did whatever they wanted to when they were at home, but once we got them here we did a great job of just hitting them — and we kept hitting them throughout the whole game." Paul George scored 19 points, and Lance Stephenson had 13 points and matched a career-high with 14 rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost a season-high four straight road games. Indiana committed five turnovers in the first four minutes Friday and shot 35 per cent overall. By halftime, the Pacers were up to 10 turnovers. No. 11 came on the first possession of the second half, when centre Roy Hibbert threw the ball out of bounds. After scoring in the 70s only once in their first 69 games, the Pacers have held below 80 in three of their last four. "Im tired of talking about it," said Hibbert, who went 3-for-8 from the field and had only two rebounds. "Weve been in this rut for a month. I dont know. Ive made my suggestions. You take one step forward and three steps back. One game, and then we play like this. ... Weve talked about that for great length amongst ourselves, private team meetings, all that (stuff), and I dont know." The Pacers finished 2-for-13 from 3-point range. Stephenson went 3-for-13 and missed all five of his 3-pointers. George was 6-for-22 and was unhappy he didnt get more calls. "Its just crazy," George said. "We played against a team the other night where if you breathe on the guy (LeBron James) you know he went to the line. Im not saying Im that calibre player, but its just frustrating." As poorly as the Pacers played, the Wizards didnt truly pull away until late in the third quarter. Trevor Ariza and Martell Webster hit 3-pointers in a 10-0 run that made the score 77-56 early in the fourth. Ariza finished just 2 for 12 from the field, and Bradley Beal was 2 for 13. "We guarded our butts off," Beal said. "We didnt necessarily shoot it too well, but we definitely defended." NOTES: Beal played 35 minutes despite suffering a hip pointer in Wednesdays loss to the Phoenix Suns. ... Al Harrington accounted for all of the points in a 10-0 run by the Wizards over 2 1/2 minutes in the second quarter. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . -- Catriona Matthew remained atop the Airbus LPGA Classic leaderboard Friday, birdieing four of the last seven holes to take a one-stroke advantage over Charley Hull into the weekend. Marcus Morris Celtics Jersey . -- David Price didnt think he would be in Port Charlotte this spring. http://www.authenticcelticsteamproshop.com/Cheap-Terry-Rozier-Celtics-Jersey/ . He liked what he saw on Tuesday night. Not only did his team post a comeback 3-2 victory in a shootout over the Montreal Canadiens, but the rival Washington Capitals were beaten 5-1 in Buffalo. Dennis Johnson Celtics Jersey . Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Tuesday as president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years. Bach, the longtime favourite, defeated five candidates in a secret ballot for the most influential job in international sports, keeping the presidency in European hands. Kyrie Irving Celtics Jersey ... as usual. Even with the salary cap being set lower than many general managers expected and hoped for at $69 million and whats considered a shallow pool of top-end players available, this unrestricted-free-agent period figures to follow the familiar script of teams bidding up prices to keep up with each other.TORONTO - Its only an exhibition game but the Canadian junior hockey teams contest versus Sweden on Sunday night could be a significant one for Connor McDavid and Curtis Lazar.cmake their Canadian team debuts in the RBC Road to the World Juniors at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Watch Canada vs. Sweden live tonight on TSN2 and TSN GO at 7pm et/4pm pt. McDavid, 17, hasnt played since suffering a broken right hand during an Ontario Hockey League game Nov. 11. McDavid admits hell be trying to shake the rust. Just try and play as well as I can I mean thats the main thing, he said. I cant ask for too much, Ive been off for a while. Just do what I can. McDavid, expected to be one of the top two selections in the 2015 NHL entry draft, had 16 goals and 51 points in 18 games with the Erie Otters before the injury. I think its a matter for him to get back into his rhythm, Canadian team coach Benoit Groulx said. I thought he did pretty well last week in St. Catharines. Its only the feel for the game and the way hes got to go . . . I think hes just got to take one period at a time and keep things simple. Theres a chance fans in Ottawa could see McDavid on a line with Lazar. Obviously thatd be pretty special to play with a guy like that, said McDavid, who had a goal and four points in seven games at last years world junior tournament. He has so much experience and playing in the NHL he obviously has some good advice and plays a very pro-mentality type game. Lazar, a Senators prospect, was loaned to Hockey Canada on Thursday after appearing 27 games for Ottawa. He had a goal and six assists while averaging nearly 13 minutes of ice time. Ottawa had until midnight ET on Friday to decide whether to send Lazar to the tournament. The 19-year-old said it was tough awaiting the Senators decision. Its been a roller coaster of emotions lately, he said. I lost a little bit of sleep over it trying to figure it out, but the bottom line is its an opportunity to represent your country and that doesnt come too often. (Excitement) was building up there with decision time. I didnt know what was going to happen..dddddddddddd It was a unique situation to be in because both are good solutions. Canada finished fourth last year, losing to Russia in the bronze medal game. That is serving as motivation for Lazar, a native of Vernon, B.C. To be here, the gold medal is one thing to check off from my junior resume, he said. Im still sour from the result last year and how our team played. Im really going to try and take it upon myself to change that result. Lazar and Buffalo Sabres prospect Sam Reinhart are front-runners to be team captain, a decision Groulx expects to make following Sundays game. (Lazar) is giving us options obviously. Can play centre, wing, power play (and) penalty kill, said Groulx. Hes a competitor. He brings leadership on and off the ice so I think its a big asset for us. Lazar, who had three goals and seven points in seven games at last years junior tournament, is already embracing a leadership role on the team. Ive been to a Memorial Cup, Ive played in this tournament last year and I have a little bit of NHL experience too, he said. I can bring that pro mentality and just what it takes to, on a day-to-day basis, be in the NHL. I think it can really translate here. Having spent the first two-and-a-half months of the season in the NHL, Lazar said his Canadian junior teammates have been picking his brain about the pro life. Im trying to tell them what its all about because its pretty cool, said Lazar. I know for myself, every game is a different story. Ive line-matched against (Sidney) Crosby, the Sedins and thats been a real eye opener for me to see the skill… the best in the world play and Im trying to share that knowledge. Canada concludes its pre-tournament schedule Tuesday night in Montreal against Switzerland. The Canadians open the world junior tournament Friday night facing Slovakia at the Bell Centre. 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