Game 1 is on Sunday in Boston. Dennis Schroder, however, has been the big surprise of the series, almost matching Wall in productivity. It was the second time in six playoff games the center did not play in the fourth quarter.
Advertisement
Those were his first points of Game 5; Gortat finished with five. Both NBA TV and ESPNU will carry Game 6, and fans can watch a free live stream online with WatchESPN.
After coming back from down 22, the Hawks trailed 93-90 early in the fourth quarter. From here, the game was back in the Wizards’ control, and it allowed Wall to really turn on the jets.
“It is going to be tough… we know this is a team which has a great point guard and great role players around him”, Beal said ahead of the clash with Boston.
It also helps that this isn’t Wall and Beal’s first rodeo.
Paul Millsap and Dennis Schroder recorded 31 and 26 points respectively for the beaten Hawks.
Wall’s relentless lane penetration was abetted by Atlanta’s scrambled defensive transitions, and his pull-up jumpers were open because the Hawks’ bigs rarely made pressure-shows in defense of screens. He was the only player in the National Basketball Association to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in 2016-17, and he did so on a 49-win team. The Anchorman Millsap worked down low, getting his shots and going to the line. After struggling with foul trouble throughout the series, Morris came up big in his 40 minutes of action. That’s why Howard’s production was limited to 3-of-4, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals, and nine points in only 23 minutes.
The Wizards led by 22 points in the second half, but Atlanta twice trimmed the lead to three points. While Schröder had an excellent game offensively, there were several possessions in which he did not have his hands up or out to limit John Wall’s passing lanes. The Wizards would finish with 28 fast break points in the game, converting on 11/14 shooting opportunities.
Hardaway, a restricted free agent, ranked third on the team with his average of 14.5 points and he led the team in 3-pointers.
Avery Bradley scored 23 points and Thomas added 12 before heading home to Washington for his sister’s funeral on Saturday.
The Clippers will host the only do-or-die game of the first round Sunday, with the victor advancing to face the Golden State Warriors.
He returned as team president in 2003, helping construct a club that was among the best in the league, won 61 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in 2003-04.
Wall’s Washington Wizards closed on Schroder’s Atlanta Hawks on Friday in Game 6, with Wall throwing down one of the more impressive individual performances of these playoffs.
The Wizards are set to face the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final which is set to begin tomorrow afternoon.
Now all eyes are on John Wall and Isaiah Thomas. Last duo to do it: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Just like their next opponents, the Celtics have not impressed in the first round as the opposition was not on the same level, especially not after the Bulls lost Rondo after the first two game to an injury.
Wall scored a playoff career-high 42 points, dished out 8 assists, stole the ball 4 times and blocked 2 shots.
Advertisement
Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas celebrates their dismantling of the Hawks in Game 6.
