Indianapolis, IN (My Sportsbook) - Danny Granger scored a team-high 31 points, and the Indiana Pacers defeated the lowly Washington Wizards, 124-115, at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Brandon Rush continued his hot play with a career-high tying 29-point, 10- rebound effort for the Pacers, who have won three of four and are 4 1/2 games behind eighth-place Chicago for the final playoff spot with eight games remaining.

"I am glad we got the win tonight and continue to play well," Rush said. "I am more comfortable and playing with more confidence and taking more high percentage shots. I am playing more aggressive. We just have to be ready for our next game."

Jarrett Jack had 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Roy Hibbert provided 12 points and eight boards in the win.

Caron Butler scored 31 points and added 13 rebounds for the Wizards, who have lost seven of eight and sit in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Antawn Jamison had 29, while Javaris Crittenton donated 19 in the loss.

"We didn't move the ball like we should have," Crittenton said. "We didn't move the ball well at all. And we didn't make shots off the pass, I guess. We did a lot of creating tonight."

Indiana held a slight 30-28 lead after the first quarter and finished the second on a 13-4 burst to take a 59-52 edge to halftime.

The Pacers scored the first six points of the third, as Hibbert's basket made it 65-52 two minutes into the period. Indiana led by as many as 18, 86-68, before seven straight Washington points cut the deficit to 11.

The hosts made it a 92-76 game heading to the fourth after Travis Diener's three with four seconds on the clock.

Graham's layup two minutes into the fourth quickly put the Pacers ahead by 20, 101-81, but the Wizards fought back to make it a nine-point game, 118-109, with 2:32 left after Jamison drained a three.

Jack's floater with 1:44 on the clock put Indiana back ahead by double digits, and the Pacers held on from there.

Game Notes

Rush has scored in double digits for a career-high five straight games...Rasho Nesterovic scored 10 points for Indiana...Andray Blatche added 12 points for the Wizards...Indiana won the season series, 2-1...The Pacers are 21-14 at home, while Washington is 5-32 on the road...Washington's Gilbert Arenas sat out to rest his sore knee after making his season debut on Saturday.