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Wizards do just enough to finish Pacers off

The Wizards came out sloppy in second half but close out Pacers in final minutes, going 3-1 on four games in five nights stretch. Also, Paul Pierce doesn't like back-to-back games.

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

1. Wizards hold on, 97-90, to beat Indiana Pacers

It was a tale of two halves, but thankfully the Wizards managed to make enough plays down the stretch to get their fifth win of the season. The Pacers cut a 21-point lead down to three late in the game and made things a lot more difficult than it should have been after Nene carried the team with 15 points in the first 10 minutes of action. But, a win's a win and the Wizards are now 5-2 with three days of rest before their next game.

To the recaps:

Bullets Forever

The Washington Post

Wiz of Awes

Comcast SportsNet

Wizards XTRA

Daily Wizdom

2. Paul Pierce does not like back-to-back games

Pierce is in the twilight of his career and his body is ragged five games into his 17th NBA season. Needless to say, he does not like playing two games in two nights. The man needs his rest.

"I’d rather play every other day," Pierce said. "I mean, it’s tough man, especially when you play so many, 82 games. You fly … People don’t understand the grind. You come home, you land at 2 o’clock, people say, OK, you’re getting eight hours rest. A lot of us eat when we land or we’re up for a couple hours, so you don’t go to bed until four, then you wake up and go to practice and got to pay the next night."

3. The John Wall Effect

John Wall revives careers. He is the face of this franchise for a good reason -- not only because of what he can do individually but because of what he has shown he can do for others. So far, Wall has been an influential part of Garrett Temple's early season success.

4. Hear from the team

Postgame interviews after beating the Pacers:

John Wall

Kris Humphries

Nene

Randy Wittman