Wizards 91, Pacers 78: John Wall tallied 20 points and eight assists and Marcin Gortat added 17 points and 12 rebounds as host Washington easily handled Indiana to move closer to clinching its first playoff berth in six years.

Al Harrington scored 12 points in a reserve role as Washington won for only the second time in six games. Trevor Ariza and Martell Webster each contributed 11 points for the Wizards, who solidified their hold on sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Paul George collected 19 points and nine rebounds to lead the Pacers, whose lead over Miami for the top spot in the East slipped to two games. Lance Stephenson tallied 13 points and matched a career best with 14 rebounds while David West and Luis Scola chipped in 10 points apiece for Indiana, which has dropped four straight on the road.

Washington never trailed, but it was close throughout the first quarter before the Wizards used 10 straight points from Harrington to surge to a 36-23 lead early in the second. Indiana scored 12 straight later in the quarter to get within 44-37 at halftime, but the Pacers never closed the gap.

The Wizards closed the third quarter with a 13-2 run — seven of those points coming from Ariza — to take a 74-56 lead into the final stanza, and they cruised from there. Indiana made a brief charge to get within 84-74 with 4:31 left, but Wall and Gortat combined for seven straight points to thwart the rally.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Wizards scored more points through three quarters (74) than their final total in either of their previous meetings with Indiana this season. … Gortat's double-double was his 31st of the season. … Indiana had won 11 of the previous 12 meetings.