NBA Playoffs

UNDATED (AP) — Indiana fans can exhale now. Their 7-foot center Roy Hibbert has emerged from his playoff funk.

The big man had a season-best 28 points and nine rebounds in leading the Pacers to an 86-82 victory over Washington to square their second-round playoff series at a game apiece with the Wizards.

But after hearing 48 hours of constant criticism and continual questions, Hibbert responded with the kind of game Indiana desperately needed. He made his first four shots, dominated the middle and produced big basket after big basket.

Marcin Gortat  had 21 points and Bradley Beal added 17 for the Wizards.

The series shifts to Washington for Game 3 Friday night. The Pacers have announced that backup center Andrew Bynum will miss the rest of the playoffs. He has battled a sore right knee pretty much all season.

In Oklahoma City, the Thunder achieved a split in the first two games of their Western Conference series by beating the Los Angeles Clippers 112-101. NBA MVP Kevin Durant had 32 points while backcourt mate Russell Westbrook had his fourth career playoff triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Serge Ibaka added 14 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

J.J. Redick was high man for the Clippers. Chris Paul, hampered by foul problems, was held to 17 points on 6 of 13 shooting.

The series moves to Los Angeles for the third game Friday night.

NBA-EXEC OF THE YEAR

Spurs' exec lands award

UNDATED (AP) — San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford has been named the NBA's Executive of the Year. In his 12th season as GM and 23rd with the franchise, Buford has seen the team become one of the dominate clubs in the NBA. This season the Spurs won a league-best 62 games. They are playing Portland in the second round of the playoffs.

Owners discuss plans on Clippers' owner

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA owners have held their second discussions about ending Donald Sterling's ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers. The advisory/finance committee held a conference call as owners work to force Sterling to sell the franchise following his lifetime ban for making racist comments. The owners plan to meet again next week.