Bradley Beal scored a game-high 25 points and Trevor Ariza added 22 as the well-rested Washington Wizards beat top-seeded Indiana 102-96 to open their NBA playoff series.
The Wizards improved to 4-0 on the road in this post-season as they seized the lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference second-round series on Monday.
Beal added seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals and Ariza connected on six of six attempts from three-point range for the Wizards, who hadn't played since wrapping up a 4-1 first-round series win over Chicago Bulls last Tuesday.
The Pacers, meanwhile, needed seven games to get past Atlanta, advancing with a game-seven win on Saturday.
Marcin Gortat and Drew Gooden each posted double-doubles in the comprehensive triumph - Washington's first since 1982 in the second round of the playoffs.
Gortat finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds and Gooden posted 12 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in less than 18 minutes off the bench.
John Wall did his part also, contributing 13 points and nine assists.
The Pacers, who earned the top seeding in the East with a 56-26 regular season record, won back-to-back games to squeeze past the Hawks in the first round.
But they haven't won three games in a row since a four-game winning streak against non-playoff teams back in March.
Paul George and George Hill scored 18 points apiece in the defeat, which leaves the Pacers hoping to even the score when they host game two on Wednesday.
The Eastern Conference semifinals continue on Tuesday when two-time defending NBA champions Miami Heat host the Brooklyn Nets.
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