BOSTON — The Boston Celtics literally stole a game Wednesday night.
Forwards Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson, guard Marcus Smart and Crowder again all scored off steals in a 1:40 span late in the fourth quarter, and the Celtics ended on a 12-0 run and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 103-94 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The Celtics (20-19) blew an 11-point, third-quarter lead and then rallied from four points down late, finishing with a flourish. They trailed by three when the parade of swipes began. Boston had three steals in the game before the four in the final 2:40.
The Pacers, who had won three of their previous four, didn’t score for the final 2:15.
Guard Isaiah Thomas iced the game with a driving lay-in and four free throws, finishing with 28 points. He is averaging 32.3 points in the past three games.
Crowder scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half. Johnson had 14 points, a season-high 18 rebounds and six assists, and guard Avery Bradley contributed 11 points and six assists in the win.
After forward Paul George scored 17 of his 23 points in the third quarter, center Jordan Hill and guard George Hill combined to score Indiana’s first 10 points of the fourth quarter. George Hill finished with 13 points, and Jordan Hill had 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Pacers (22-17) were just 5-for-30 from 3-point range, with guard C.J. Miles missing all nine of his long-range shots.
It took Indiana 2:08 to grab an 8-0 lead, and it was 12-4 after 3:19. However, the Celtics then ripped off 13 points in a 3:27 span, and the run grew to 22-2 over six minutes.
The Pacers came right back with another 8-0 burst and trailed by four after the first quarter. However, led by reserve forwards Kelly Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko, the Celtics got the lead back up to 12.
Five consecutive points by swingman Glenn Robinson III helped the visitors crawl back to within one, but then Crowder took over, scoring 10 points in just under two minutes, and Boston led by eight at the break.
NOTES: Celtics coach Brad Stevens reinserted F Jared Sullinger into the starting lineup in place of F Kelly Olynyk, who sat out the second half of Tuesday night’s loss in New York because of a coach’s decision. “We’re 1-4 and just wanted to go and see if maybe we could find a different rhythm there,” Stevens said. Sullinger scored four points Wednesday. … Indiana G Rodney Stuckey, who sustained a right foot injury in Tuesday night’s win over the Phoenix Suns, didn’t make the trip. … Pacers coach Frank Vogel on Stevens missing a game to visit former Butler player Andrew Smith, who died Tuesday: “He’s just doing the right thing. I would hope that all of us with former players in a situation like that would do the same. Brad’s as high character a guy as you’re ever going to meet. So it’s not surprising.” The Celtics observed a pregame moment of silence for Smith.
Hornets 107, Hawks 84
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Guard Kemba Walker scored 23 points before sitting out the entire fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 107-84 blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Walker was 9 of 13 from the field and hit four 3-pointers, breaking out after combining to go 7 of 28 from the field in his previous two games. He also had five assists.
The Hornets (18-20) raced to a 17-2 lead in the first seven minutes and never trailed from there, taking advantage of an Atlanta team that seemed totally disinterested all night. Charlotte eventually led by as many as 35 points in the second half.
The Hawks (23-16), who had won two straight and nine of their previous 12, were 1 of 11 from the field with six turnovers on their first 15 possessions. They finished at 37 percent from the floor and committed 16 turnovers.
The Hornets also got big production from guard Jeremy Lin and center Cody Zeller. Lin finished with 19 points, Zeller had 19 points and 10 rebounds and guard Nicolas Batum added 10 assists.
Forward Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 20 points. But center Al Horford, who had 33 points and 10 rebounds in a win at Chicago on Saturday, finished with just two points and two rebounds.
The Hornets led 45-36 at halftime and 80-58 after three quarters.
Wizards 106, Bucks 101
WASHINGTON — Guard John Wall scored 19 points and the Washington Wizards opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run and pulled away for their third straight win, a 106-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night.
Guard Ramon Sessions had 15 points for the Wizards (18-19), who blew a 19-point lead in the first half and trailed 74-71 entering the final period before pulling ahead of the turnover-plagued Bucks. Washington turned 27 Milwaukee turnovers into 36 points as the Wizards improved to 3-0 against the Bucks this season.
Wizards guard Bradley Beal scored 11 points in 22 minutes during his first appearance since Dec. 9. He missed 16 games with a stress reaction in his right fibula.
Guard Khris Middleton led the Bucks (16-25) with 25 points.
Milwaukee, coming off a win Tuesday over the Chicago Bulls, has lost four of six. Forward Jabari Parker had 22 points and center Greg Monroe finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. The Bucks shot 52.8 percent from the field.
Milwaukee closed the third quarter with a 21-5 run, including the last 11 points, as forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 13 of his points in the period. The Bucks immediately coughed up the lead with three turnovers on their first three possessions.
Sessions’ two free throws put the Wizards ahead for good at 75-74. Wall’s dunk gave Washington its largest lead of quarter at 93-80.
Parker scored nine points in the fourth quarter and his three-point play cut Washington’s lead to 104-101 with two seconds left. The Wizards made their final six free throws, including two from Beal 1.6 seconds left.
Washington thrived from beyond the 3-point arc, sinking 12 of 27. Forward Jared Dudley had three 3-pointers and scored 13 points.
Washington had seven players score in double figures in Monday’s 114-100 win in Chicago.
Another balanced attack occurred against the Bucks as the Wizards snapped a three-game home losing streak. Center Nene scored 12 points and guard Garrett Temple had 11 were among the seven double-figure scorers.
Forward Otto Porter had 10 points before leaving in the third quarter with a hip injury.
Washington defeated Milwaukee in the first two meetings this season, including a 115-86 win at home on Nov. 17 for its largest margin of victory this season.
Bucks guard O.J. Mayo was ruled in the second half with sore left hamstring.
Both teams shot over 52 percent from the field in the first half, but the Wizards entered the locker room leading 56-43.
NOTES: Wizards C Marcin Gortat missed his second straight game with an infection. There is no timetable for his return, but coach Randy Wittman said staph infection was ruled out. … Bucks F Kris Humphries (knee) sat out his fifth straight game. … Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 assists in two previous meetings against the Wizards this season. … Milwaukee returns home to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday for the first time this season. Washington plays at Indiana on Friday before starting a five-game homestand Saturday against the Boston Celtics.