INDIANAPOLIS -- Big Roy came up with a big answer for his critics and his teammates Wednesday night. [url=http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Paul-Hornung-Packers-Je rsey/]Paul Hornung Jersey[/url] . He played like an All-Star when the Pacers really needed it. After 48 hours of questions and c

INDIANAPOLIS -- Big Roy came up with a big answer for his critics and his teammates Wednesday night. Paul Hornung Jersey . He played like an All-Star when the Pacers really needed it. After 48 hours of questions and criticism, Roy Hibbert scored a season-high 28 points, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked two shots and altered a handful of others to help the Pacers get even in the Eastern Conference semifinals with an 86-82 victory over Washington. Hibbert sounded more relieved than redeemed. "David (West) always talks to me about being the person that rescues yourself when youre in the middle of the ocean," Hibbert said after Indiana tied the best-of-seven series at 1-1. "Theres nobody who can throw a lifesaver or a rope out to help you. So I had to do it myself." The next step is proving he can play this way again Friday when Washington hosts Game 3. Hibbert went into Wednesday with a combined total of 37 points and 24 rebounds in Indianas first eight playoff games. Twice in the previous four he failed to score a point or grab a rebound. Beleaguered Pacers fans wanted Hibbert benched. Frustrated teammates talked publicly and privately about needing more from their 7-foot-2 centre. Critics turned Hibbert into the butt of jokes and on the Internet, some even tried to explain Hibberts incredible disappearing act with unseemly speculation. After talking to his old college coach, John Thompson III, and Colts linebacker Robert Mathis, a close friend, Hibbert blocked out the inescapable firestorm, focused on basketball and fueled the decisive 6-0 run late in the fourth quarter. It was enough to put repeated smiles on Hibberts face, even if he considers it only a start. "I just want to string a few games together," he said. "Consistency hasnt been my biggest friend this year. Im going to try to continue to play aggressive and Im going to try to control the things I can control. I cant control play calls, but I can control how hard I play, how fast I run down the court and how well I play defence." George Hill finished with 14 points, Paul George had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Lance Stephenson added 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. And for the first time this post-season, the Pacers held an opponent to fewer than nine 3-pointers. Washington finished 5 of 21 from behind the arc, the lowest percentage (23.8) in the playoffs this year. Much of the credit went to Hibbert, who helped open up the offensive lanes for his teammates and protected the rim well enough that Indiana could spread out and defend the perimeter. "Hes got our attention now," Drew Gooden said. "Weve got to be focused on guarding the Roy Hibbert we know." It was a lost opportunity for the Wizards, who had won their first four playoff games on the road -- three at Chicago and Monday night at Indy -- and could have gone home with a commanding 2-0 lead. They had chances. Washington led by as much as six early in the third quarter and rallied in the fourth to take a 77-74 lead with 5:01 to go before Hibbert and George scored six straight to give the Pacers the lead for good. Marcin Gortat finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Bradley Beal had 17 points and Nene added 14. "He came out with a lot of intensity and established position," Beal said. "We didnt play our best game. We didnt shoot the ball and we didnt defend like we know were capable." But Hibbert changed this game almost by himself. He scored the first five points of the game, an indication that things were going to be different, and he came up big late, too. Hibberts nifty stop-and-go layup got the Pacers within 77-76. That basket ignited the decisive 6-0 spurt. Georges steal on the ensuing possession led to a layup from Hill that gave Indiana a 78-77 lead, and Hibberts presence in the middle allowed George to find a lane for a two-handed dunk that made it 80-77. All the Wizards could muster after that was an alley-oop layup from Gortat and a long 3-pointer from Beal that got the Wizards within 84-82 with 11 seconds to play. West made two free throws and Hibbert sealed it by grabbing the last rebound of the game. "He carried us tonight," West said. "I thought he was very relaxed before the game. He was relaxed this morning. He didnt say a whole lot, but as a professional, I think everything just came down on him and he responded the right way." Notes: Hibbert was 10 of 13 from the field and made all eight of his free throw attempts.... Nene went to the locker room in the first quarter after apparently hurting his left leg or ankle but returned early in the second quarter and finished the game. Rashan Gary Womens Jersey . Jovanovski, the 2012 champ seeded fifth, will meet surprise Japanese qualifier Misa Eguchi on Friday. Eguchi, ranked 183rd, qualified for her first WTA main draw this week, then beat No. Dexter Williams Womens Jersey . The ongoing funk on penalty kill and an unusually quiet night on home ice for the power play divided the Leafs from the Bruins at the ACC in a rare Sunday night affair. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Paul-Hornung-Packers-Jersey/ . Then again, he really was at his home away from home. "It was nice to sleep in my own bed last night," Shields said after pitching Kansas City past the San Diego Padres 8-0 Wednesday.BEREA, Ohio -- Montario Hardesty cant stop his unlucky run of injuries. The Browns running back will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday, the latest medical setback for Hardesty, who dislocated his right thumb on Monday after missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury. Cleveland coach Rob Chudzinski said Hardesty has been bothered by "nagging" soreness in his knee, and that the surgery is not related to the hamstring injury that forced him to miss the majority of workouts this summer. Hardesty had only returned to practice on Monday when he injured his thumb while jumping to catch a direct snap from centre. Chudzinski does not know how long Hardesty, who has undergone prior surgeries to repair torn ligaments in both knees, will be sidelined. "Well have to see after he gets that (scope)," Chudzinski said. "Its just to clean it up." Typically, the recovery time on such surgeries is least one month. Chudzinski said his message to Hardesty is to stay strong. "You have to keep coming back and keep fighting," he said. "I think that is the theme we have been talking about a lot. It applies everywhere in this game. And hell make it back." Chudzinski did not know which knee Hardesty was going to have scoped. Hardesty was limited in practice Tuesday, when he had a protective wrap over his thumb. He left without speaking to reporters. The engaging 26-year-old has had injury issues throughout his NFL career, and before he turned pro. Hardesty tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the final exhibition game in 2010 and missed his entire rookie season. Hardesty also had knee problems in college at Tennessee, and had his right ACL repaired when he was a freshman with the Volunteers. Hes battled back every time, and now Hardesty will have to do it again. "That injury bug is something you cant control," said linebacker DQwell Jackson, who had had to overcome two major chest injuries. "Hes just got to stay positive. Once he has his surgery, its just one day at a time, just look at how you can make the situation better. It starts with the attitude, attitude is everything. Its going to help the healing process and its going to help him mentally get through it. "I would tell him is to keep good people around him just so he stays motivated and stays with a positive outlook. Clay Matthews Womens Jersey. " Hardesty was drafted in the second round by Cleveland in 2010. He rushed for 271 yards as Trent Richardsons backup last season, but his roster spot was believed to be in jeopardy because of the arrival of Dion Lewis, who recently passed him on the depth chart. Chudzinski said the Browns will have to wait to see how long Hardesty will be out before any roster decisions can be finalized. "Well just have to see when he gets back and then balance that with the other guys and how they are doing and how theyve done in the next couple weeks," he said. With Chris Ogbonnaya and Brandon Jackson, the Browns have enough depth at running back to help ease the sting of losing Hardesty. "Its really nice having Dion in there because hes done a great job during the entire training camp," Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas said. "He did a great job in the first preseason game, and obviously with him and Trent and Obi, a nice little depth chart there. Theyll be able to pick up the slack nicely." NOTES: Thomas said RB Trent Richardson playing in the preseason should help the Browns line develop some chemistry with the second-year star. Richardson sat out all four exhibitions a year ago and never caught up. "You cant just plug somebody in there and just expect him to know where the reads are and the cuts and how were blocking every play," Thomas said. "So having live reps with him back there is going to be tremendously helpful." ... Starting S T.J. Ward will be kept out of Thursdays exhibition game against Detroit as a precaution as he recovers from a nagging hamstring. "Nothing wrong," Chudzinski said. "Just want to be smart about it and get him ready for the season." ... CB Chris Owens practiced with the starters on Wednesday and will play against the Lions after missing last weeks preseason opener against St. Louis with a strained foot arch. Owens is competing with Buster Skrine for the starting spot opposite Joe Haden. ... WRs Jordan Norwood (hamstring) and David Nelson (knee) and P T.J. Conley (groin) did not practice as the Browns did their final tuneup for the Lions. ... Undrafted rookie OL Chris Faulk had arthroscopic knee surgery Monday, Chudzinski said. ' ' '