The 31-14 disparity during those 12 minutes completely

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Wizards were tired of getting shoved around in the Eastern Conference semifinals. [url=http://www.2015sportshoesdeals.com/nike-air-max-90... Air Max 90 Sneakerboot Ice[/url] . So on Tuesday night, Marcin Gortat and his teammates pushed back hard. Gortat delivered the best playoff game of his career, 31 points and 16 rebounds, and John Wall scored a playoff-best 27 points as Washington routed the Indiana Pacers 102-79 to cut the Eastern Conference semifinals deficit to 3-2. "We dont have anything to lose now," Gortat said. "We play desperate. At the end of the day, we might lose. We have to play every minute of every game like its the last one of the season." The Wizards made a stunning turnaround after losing three straight, two on their home court in incredibly demoralizing fashion. Washington scored a franchise-low 63 points in Game 3 and then blew a 19-point, second-half lead in Game 4. Washington refused to let it happen again this time, earning a trip home for Game 6 on Thursday. The difference was obvious. Wall broke free, Gortat dominated the middle and the motivated Wizards were simply overwhelming inside with a 62-23 rebounding edge. Gortat produced more points and rebounds in 36 minutes than he had in the previous two games combined (six points and 13 rebounds). He was 13 of 15 from the field, 5 of 7 from the free-throw line, tied his career-best point total and finished with playoff career bests for points and rebounds. "I was a decoy in Game 3 and Game 4," the 30-year-old Polish native said. "(Tuesday) was the time for me to perform. At some point in the second half, it was just fun to be in the game." Wall seemed to enjoy himself, too. The much more aggressive point guard went 11 of 20 from the field and 3 of 6 on 3s, finishing with five rebounds, five assists and five turnovers as he sliced through the Pacers defence. "They didnt stop me from being aggressive on both ends," Wall said. "But the biggest thing was just the way we played in the third quarter. They outscored us by like 40 in the other four games, so the third quarter was big for us tonight." The 31-14 disparity during those 12 minutes completely changed the game, putting talk about the presumed conference finals rematch between Indiana and two-time defending NBA champ Miami temporarily on hold. One possible explanation for what happened to the Pacers was fatigue. Four of Indianas five starters played at least 39 minutes in Game 4. Coach Frank Vogel was concerned enough that he gave the Pacers a day off Monday. David West led Indiana with 17 points and six rebounds, but Paul George struggled after playing 46 minutes in Game 4. He was 5 of 15 from the field with 15 points, one rebound, two assists and four turnovers. But the problems went much deeper that weariness. West was only the starter to grab more than two rebounds, Washington held Indiana to 39 per cent shooting and they continually beat the Pacers to loose balls. This was not what Indiana expected. "We didnt show up to play. I dont know if we just thought we were going to come in here and these guys were going to roll over or what. They just played at a different level than we did all night," West said after Indianas second-worst home playoff loss in its NBA history. "Its a tough situation. We have to be able to handle these moments. We had no zip. We have to play. If we want this series, we have to take it." Washington was the team doing that Tuesday. The Wizards used a 15-6 run to close the half, turning a 32-30 deficit into a 45-38 lead. In the disastrous third quarter, Indiana was outrebounded 18-4 and the Wizards made them pay time after time. Washingtons 6-0 run extended the lead to 11, a 9-2 spurt pushed the margin to 60-45, and when the Wizards closed the third on a 10-3 charge, it was 76-52. Washington led by as much as 30 in the fourth, and the Pacers didnt even start cutting into the deficit until Vogel pulled his starters midway through the quarter. "Theyre not ready to go home," coach Randy Wittman said. "It said 3-1, which doesnt sound very good, but in our minds, were very close to it being something else. They dont want this (season) to end." Notes: Washington is 5-1 on the road and 1-3 at home in this years playoffs. ... Indianas worst home playoff loss came April 30, 2005 when Boston won 110-79. ... The Wizards have won two of their last three in Indy despite coming into the series with 12 consecutive losses at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. ... Indianas 23 rebounds were a franchise low in the playoffs. [url=http://www.2015sportshoesdeals.com/adidas-original... Originals Zx Flux[/url] . -- The Buffalo Sabres got the lead for a change, and held onto it thanks to a stellar performance in goal by Jhonas Enroth. [url=http://www.2015sportshoesdeals.com/]Nike Air Max 2015 Womens Running Shoe[/url] . - Former NFL safety Darren Sharper pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he drugged and raped two women he met at a West Hollywood night club, while the emergence of a new accuser in Florida left him under investigation in five states.The NBA is holding a news conference on Tuesday in New York to discuss the investigation into racist comments allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in a recorded conversation. You can watch it live on TSN, TSN.ca and TSN GO at at 2pm et/11am pt. The news conference is a clear sign NBA Commissioner Adam Silver - in the first real crisis of his short tenure - is both following through on his plan to move quickly on this matter and adhering to a request from the players union for some sort of resolution in short order. The Clippers host Golden State in Game 5 of their Western Conference first round series on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. "He should not continue owning the clippers," Lakers star Kobe Bryant wrote Monday on Twitter. Fallout from the Sterling scandal continued Monday, with CarMax -- the nations largest retailer of used vehicles -- ending its sponsorship of the team. The company said in a statement it finds the statements attributed to Sterling "completely unacceptable." "While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for nine years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship," it explained. Portions of the recordings were released over the weekend by TMZ and Deadspin. Silvers first step in the process was to authenticate that Sterlings voice is on the tape, and while the NBA has not confirmed that it is, Sterlings wife attributed the comments to her husband. "Our family is devastated by the racist comments made by my estranged husband," Rochelle Sterling said in a statement sent KABC-TV in Los Angeles. "My children and I do not share these despicable views or prejudices. We will not let one mans small mindedness poison the spirit of the fans and accomplishments of the team in the city we love. We are doing everything in our power to stand by and support our Clippers team." Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, the former NBA All-Star who is serving as an adviser to the National Basketball Players Association while the Sterling matter plays out, called it "a massive distraction" to the league. What Silver will do remains unclear. He works for the owners -- and so far that group seems to have no sympathy for Sterlings latest controversy. Among those who have spoken out publicly to condemn the alleged Sterling remarks: Washingtons Ted Leonsis, Miamis Micky Arison and perhaps most notably, Charlottes Michael Jordan, who won six NBA titles as a player. "Im obviously disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views," Jordan said in a statement released Sunday. "Im confident that Adam Silver will make a full investigation and take appropriate action quickly." Silvers tenure&nbbsp;as commissioner began on Feb. [url=http://www.2015sportshoesdeals.com/adidas-original... Originals Superstar 2 Womens[/url]. 1, replacing the retired David Stern. Silver met with Kevin Johnson on Sunday and heard five things that the players union wants from the commissioner. The list includes: - Sterling not attending any NBA games for the rest of the playoffs because of the "enormous distraction." - A full account of past allegations of discrimination by Sterling and why the league never sanctioned him. - An explanation of the range of penalties the league could bring against Sterling. - Assurance the NBA and the union will be partners in the investigation. - A decisive ruling. "Hes got to come down hard," Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson, who was referenced on the audio recording, said Sunday on ABC. The NBA constitution is not public, though its understood the commissioners powers are broad when it comes to dealing with matters deemed "prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of basketball." A fine, a suspension, a demand for sensitivity training, all those and more are surely at Silvers disposal. Meanwhile, more audio may be coming. An employee in the office of attorney Mac E. Nehoray, who represents the woman allegedly on the tape, said the full recording lasts about an hour. The clips released by TMZ and Deadspin are significantly shorter than that. The attorneys office also insists that the recording is legitimate and that Sterling is the man on the tape. Also on Sunday, the NAACP announced on Twitter that Sterling will not be receiving a lifetime achievement award from the LA Branch of the NAACP." Sterling had been slated to receive the honour May 15 as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the groups Los Angeles chapter. Some players feel for the magnitude of the task Silver is facing. "What, hes been three months on the job? And he has to deal with an issue like this," Washingtons Garrett Temple said. "Its unfair to him. ... Its going to be a difficult situation for him to take care of, and hes probably going to act swiftly as he said. And he needs to do so. Its a very tough issue. A lot of different sides. But its more than basketball." Sterling has been the subject of many past controversies, but this, particularly at playoff time and with his own team a potential title contender, has perhaps generated more outcry than the others combined. Even President Barack Obama addressed the issue Sunday at a news conference in Malaysia. The next move will be made by Silver, and Tuesday apparently is the day. "This is a defining moment for the league," Kevin Johnson said. "Its a defining moment for the commissioner." AP Sports Writers Antonio Gonzalez and Joseph White and Associated Press Writer John Rogers contributed to this report. [url=http://www.cheapjerseyssafe.com/]cheap jerseys[/url] [url=http://www.wholesalejerseychinastore.com/]wholesal... jerseys[/url] ' ' '