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INDIANAPOLIS -- Big Roy came up with a big answer for his critics and his teammates Wednesday night. 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. Chuck Howley Jersey . -- Southern Illinois coach Barry Hinson couldnt hear himself amid the roar in Koch Arena, so he kept stomping on the floor in a fruitless attempt to get his teams attention. Larry Allen Youth Jersey . The shortstop still grieves, but it will be nights like the one Segura had in a 5-2 victory Monday over the Cincinnati Reds that will provide some distraction. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowb...Novacek-Jersey/. After losing Brett Cecil to groin tightness on Friday, the Blue Jays watched as R. Connor McGovern Youth Jersey . -- Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno was admitted to the hospital Friday for observation due to minor complications from cancer treatments, his family said. Bob Lilly Cowboys Jersey . has left the San Jose Sharks to become the Boston Bruins director of player personnel.PHOENIX - Almost all football fans know Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch and Rob Gronkowski.The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks wouldnt be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday if it werent for their superstars. But both teams got here with lesser-known players coming up big at key times.Jermaine Kearse caught a touchdown pass in overtime in Seattles win over Green Bay in the NFC championship game. Julian Edelman threw a TD pass in New Englands division-round win over Baltimore.Theres Rob Ninkovich, Michael Bennett and several others. Often, surprise players are the stars in the Super Bowl.Just look at last year when Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith was the unlikely MVP in Seattles win over Denver. Smith returned a Peyton Manning interception for a touchdown and recovered a fumble in a 43-8 rout. Now the former seventh-round pick hardly plays on defence.Thats the beauty of our team that anybody can have an MVP-type of day, Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said Wednesday. Thats what makes us special. I wouldnt be surprised if somebody nobody talks about is MVP.Brady, Wilson, Lynch, Gronkowski and LeGarrette Blount have the five best odds of winning the MVP award. But Smith is listed at 100:1 by Bovada.To get to this point and to win these games, its not about anything more than that, Smith said. That is how we can be successful.Ninkovich, one of New Englands top pass rushers, is also at 100:1 odds. He had eight sacks in each of the past three seasons and will be a key factor in trying to contain Wilson.You cant run past him, Ninkovich said. Those are when the big plays happen. You have to be under control, but also not just stand there and not do anything to affect him in the pocket. So you just have to be smart.Bennett has helped solidify Seattles defence since arriving from Tampa Bay before the 2013 season. The defensive end gets overlooked on a unit known for the Legion of Boom secondary featuring Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.I dont really worrry about the atmosphere of the game, Bennett said.dddddddddddd. I think for us we treat every game exactly the same and weve been in every situation we could possibly be in.Heres a list of some surprise stars from past Super Bowls:DEXTER JACKSON: Jackson had two interceptions to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in the 2003 Super Bowl. Teammate Dwight Smith returned two picks for touchdowns against Rich Gannon and Oaklands top-ranked offence, but Jackson got the MVP award. Jackson signed a $14 million, five-year deal with Arizona in free agency, but was released after one season and returned to the Buccaneers.LARRY BROWN: Brown became the first cornerback to win Super Bowl MVP when his two interceptions helped the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in 1996. Brown leveraged that performance into a $12 million, five-year contract with the Raiders in free agency, but lasted only two seasons in Oakland and started just one game.DAVID TYREE: Tyree only had 54 career catches, but hell forever be remembered for the helmet grab that helped the New York Giants beat the Patriots 17-14 in the 2008 Super Bowl, snapping New Englands perfect season. Giants quarterback Eli Manning was the MVP of the game.TIMMY SMITH: After running for only 126 yards as a rookie in 1987, Smith set a Super Bowl rushing record with 204 yards and scored two TDs to help the Washington Redskins beat Denver 42-10. Quarterback Doug Williams was the MVP of the game. Smith played only two more seasons in the NFL and ran for another 476 yards total.ROD MARTIN: Martin had more interceptions (three) against Ron Jaworski in Oaklands 27-10 win over Philadelphia in the 1981 Super Bowl than he had in his first four seasons in the NFL. Martin eventually went to two Pro Bowls and was a productive player for eight more seasons. Quarterback Jim Plunkett was MVP of the win over the Eagles.___A