George helps Pacers win, maintain chance at playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS >> Paul George had 23 points and 10 rebounds and the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-89 on Thursday night to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Point guard Jeff Teague added 15 points and seven assists for the Pacers, Thaddeus Young had 12 points. and Lance Stephenson nine in his third game back with Indiana.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He scored 16 points in the first half to help the Bucks keep pace, but Indiana kept him in check in the second half and pulled away. Mirza Teletovic added 15 points for the Bucks.

Milwaukee has lost three straight after winning seven of previous eight.

The Pacers had several key runs that thwarted Milwaukee’s attempts to gain an edge.

Indiana’s second straight win, coupled with Milwaukee’s third straight loss, creates a logjam in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings with less than a week to go. WIZARDS 106, KNICKS 103 >> Bradley Beal scored 25 points and made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 49 seconds left in Washington’s victory over New York.

John Wall added 24 points and eight assists for the Wizards, who blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter but recovered to improve to 48-31, tying Toronto for third place in the Eastern Conference. Washington is trying for its first 50-win season since 1978-79. MAGIC 115, NETS 107 >> Elfrid Payton had 22 points, 11 assists and five rebounds to lead Orlando.

Aaron Gordon added 21 points, Jodie Meeks had 20, and Nikola Vucevic finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds.