Preview: Pacers at Wizards

[December 28, 2016]  The Washington Wizards are winners of seven of their last 10 games as they march toward the .500 mark and turned up the defense when it counted in the fourth quarter to come away with a victory on Monday. The Wizards will try to avenge one of their recent losses when they host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Washington fell 107-105 at Indiana on Dec. 19, when Thaddeus Young knocked down the game-winning shot on a runner in the lane with 0.9 seconds left. The Wizards, who are 3-10 on the road, are much more comfortable in their own building and are winners of six straight at home after returning from a three-game trip and overcoming a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to down the Milwaukee Bucks 107-102 on Monday. The Pacers are a very similar team and fell to 4-12 on the road with a 90-85 loss at Chicago on Monday - their third straight setback overall. "We need to climb out of this hole," Indiana star forward Paul George told reporters. "I think what we can take away from these last three games, positives that we're finishing a lot better - that's been our problem."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington)

ABOUT THE PACERS (15-17): Both George and coach Nate McMillan took time after Monday's loss to question the officiating after the Pacers attempted 10 free throws to the Bulls' 28, and George feels it's an ongoing problem. "Since I've been in this jersey we've always fought this battle," George said. "Ever since I've been playing, ever since I've been in this jersey we've fought this battle. Maybe the league has teams they like so they can give them the benefit of the doubt. We're the little brother of the league. We're definitely the little brother of the league." George is averaging 4.3 free-throw attempts, the third-fewest of any player entering Tuesday in the top-25 in the league in scoring average.

 ABOUT THE WIZARDS (14-16): Washington can count on production from the backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal but is at its best when a third scorer steps up to shoulder some of the load. Otto Porter Jr. filled that role on Monday with 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, to go with 13 rebounds in his sixth double-double. Porter went 5-of-13 from the floor in the Dec. 19 setback at Indiana but is 23-of-32 over the last three contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pacers G Rodney Stuckey (hamstring) left Monday's game and is day-to-day.

2. Wall handed out a season-high 16 assists on Monday and recorded a double-double in six of the last seven games.

3. Indiana won its last three visits to Washington and five of the last six in the series.

PREDICTION: Wizards 106, Pacers 105

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