Sharp-shooting Wizards score 80 in half, rout Pacers 127-113

WASHINGTON(AP) — Bradley Beal scored 32 points, Kristaps Porzingis and MonteMorris added 17 apiece and the Washington Wizards shot 70% from thefield through the first three quarters of their 127-113 rout of theIndiana Pacers on Saturday night.

Washingtonled 80-57 after its highest-scoring half of the season. The Wizardsgave up the first 10 points of the third quarter, bringing backmemories of a couple recent games in which they blew 20-pointleads, but they steadied themselves quickly and led 104-88 headinginto the fourth.

Washingtonwas able to substitute liberally toward the end — 13 playersappeared for the Wizards — and a late slide dropped their finalshooting percentage down to 64%, costing them a franchise recordbut setting a season high by a comfortable margin.

“We talkedabout it at halftime — we’re not going to shoot 70% all game,”Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “But we still shot prettywell. That was kind of the messaging. Don’t get complacent withjust making shots.”

TyreseHaliburton scored 21 points and Myles Turner had 20 for Indiana,which has lost 15 of its last 17.

Washington,which pulled even with Chicago for ninth place in the EasternConference, was without Kyle Kuzma because of a sprained leftankle.

The Wizardshad 18 turnovers to Indiana’s eight and allowed 27 second-chancepoints, but none of that made much difference with Washingtonshooting such an incredible percentage. The Wizards shot 73% from2-point range, 46% from 3 and 86% on free throws.

The Wizardswent 15 of 20 from the field in the first quarter — including 12 of13 inside the arc — and led 37-29. It took a little while beforeWashington really broke the game open, but an 18-4 run late in thefirst half made it 80-55.

The Wizardshave won two in a row following a three-game losing streak in whichthey led by at least 20 in losses to Portland and Brooklyn. Theytraded Rui Hachimura recently and acquired Kendrick Nunn, but itwas otherwise a quiet trade deadline for Washington.

“I think ourbiggest thing is being healthy,” Beal said. “This is our team. Youcan’t make any adjustments now. You’ve got to ride it outthroughout the rest of the year.”

CONSISTENCY

Often when ateam shoots an unusually high percentage early, it regressesdramatically at some point, but the Wizards shot 75% in the firstquarter, 71% in the second and 62% in the third. They finallydipped to 48% in the fourth, missing their final four attempts ofthe game.

TIP-INS

Pacers:George Hill and Jordan Nwora, acquired Thursday from Milwaukee in atrade, are expected to suit up for the Pacers next week. ... DanielTheis (right knee) did not play.

Wizards:Daniel Gafford scored 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting. ... BeforeSaturday, Washington’s top shooting percentage this season was 58%at Philadelphia on Nov. 2. The franchise record is 65.3% on April8, 2015, also at Philadelphia.