Warren fuels 3rd-quarter surge to lift Pacers past Wizards

T.J. Warren recorded a game-high 34 points as the Indiana Pacers scored 22 of the final 24 points in the third quarter to pull away from the Washington Wizards in a 111-100 victory yesterday afternoon near Orlando.

Malcolm Brogdon chipped in with 20 points, seven rebounds and a team-high six assists for the Pacers (41-26), who have won both their games since the restart of the NBA season.

Thomas Bryant had 20 points to pace the Wizards (24-43), who fell to the brink of elimination from the Eastern Conference playoff chase with their third straight loss.

After a tight first half that featured nine lead changes and four ties, the Wizards got within 68-66 on a Bryant 3-pointer with 5:25 remaining in the third period.

The rest of the quarter belonged to the

Pacers, however, with Myles Turner igniting a 22-2 burst with a dunk.

Warren had two traditional three-point plays in the decisive run.

Washington got no closer than seven the rest of the way, the last time when Isaac Bonga dropped in a layup to cut the gap to 107-100 with 1:16 to play.

But Aaron Holiday iced the win with two free throws with 42.0 seconds remaining.

On the heels of a 53-point eruption in which he shot 20-for-29 and hit nine 3pointers, Warren shot 14-for-26, albeit with just one 3-pointer against the Wizards. He completed a double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds.

Turner (17 points) and Holiday (17) also scored in double figures for Indiana, which completed a sweep of the season series.