Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards: Game 4 Grades and Analysis
The Atlanta Hawks escaped the Washington Wizards, 106-101, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Monday at the Verizon Center.
Jeff Teague provided his best performance of the series, helping the Hawks equalize the series at two victories apiece. The sixth-year pro led the team with 26 points, and Atlanta racked up 30 assists compared to Washington's 21.
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A possible missed travel call on Kyle Korver with mere seconds remaining didn't do the Wizards any favors, but Washington came up short despite Bradley Beal's 36-point effort.
Beal destroyed head coach Mike Budenholzer's squad near the rim and exploded for 13 points during the fourth quarter, keeping the Wizards in contention until the final buzzer.
| Jeff Teague | A- |
| Paul Millsap | B |
| DeMarre Carroll | D+ |
| Dennis Schroder | C |
| Rest of Team | B+ |
| Bradley Beal | B+ |
| Paul Pierce | B |
| Marcin Gortat | D |
| Nene Hilario | B- |
| Rest of Team | C |
Atlanta Hawks
Jeff Teague: A-
Like Inside the NBA's Charles Barkley alluded to at halftime, Teague is all eight spark plugs of Atlanta's high-powered offensive engine. When the point guard is wreaking havoc in the lane, it opens up the team's perimeter specialists.
In addition to his 26 points, Teague dished out a team-best eight assists. He was also a sneaky defender, sliding in for a pair of steals and one block.
Paul Millsap: B
Foul trouble in the third quarter slowed Millsap's once-terrific showing, but the stretch 4 is a dangerous matchup against Washington. His ability to finish at the rim off the dribble is difficult for the Wizards to contain.
Plus, Millsap's court vision is tremendous, and it was best evidenced in his no-look fast-break assist to a sprinting DeMarre Carroll. Millsap recorded 19 points, six dimes, five rebounds and two steals.
The Hawks need him to avoid picking up cheap fouls so he can facilitate the offense at his normal aggressive level.
DeMarre Carroll: D+
Put simply, Atlanta survived a forgettable defensive showing from Carroll, who was a step slow on the ball and in help defense. The Wizards caught Carroll uncharacteristically unassertive and took full advantage.
It wasn't much better for Carroll on the other end, either. He clanged six of his eight attempts, ending the hard-fought victory with five points and six boards.
Dennis Schroder: C
When Dennis Schroder entered the game off the bench, he continued Atlanta's attack-from-the-backcourt style of play. Though Schroder was sloppy with the ball at times, he registered 14 points and eight assists in 29 minutes of work.
Schroder also played alongside Teague in a two-point guard lineup that Budenholzer should only utilize early in games moving forward. Schroder shouldn't spend much more time defending Beal, because that, uh, didn't go well.
Rest of Team: B+
Al Horford lived in the mid-range area, hoisting 13 shots between 10 and 20 feet away and hitting six. He notched yet another double-double, tallying 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Pero Antic stepped up in the third quarter and nailed a couple of momentum-killing buckets, finishing with seven points. Kent Bazemore scored five points, snatched two boards and recorded one steal.
Washington Wizards
Bradley Beal: B+
Fresh off setting a single-game playoff high for assists, Beal broke another personal record Monday night: He netted 34 points, burying 11 of 25 looks and a quartet of three-pointers.
Beal added seven assists—though he didn't have one in the second half—and three steals. Even though Washington came up short, Beal's two-way talents were on full display.
Paul Pierce: B
The Truth is on fire. He's on another level. When Paul Pierce shoots, considering the way he's playing right now, a strong majority must believe the ball will torch the net.
Pierce wasn't perfect—he misfired a potential game-tying triple with less than 10 seconds remaining—but the Wizards can't ask for much more than 22 points from the veteran. He nailed eight of his 13 attempts overall and went 5-of-7 beyond the arc, though Pierce certainly wishes he could have the last one back.
Marcin Gortat: D
After six straight double-digit scoring outputs, Marcin Gortat failed to offer an offensive boost. The center is typically solid with five-foot floaters and push shots, but he finished a meager 1-of-7 from the field.
Although Gortat grabbed eight boards and disrupted Atlanta near the basket, Monday wasn't a banner outing for the Polish Hammer. Gortat managed three points, his lowest total since Jan. 31.
Nene Hilario: B-
The power forward provided a decent offensive boost, tallying 12 points and four assists. Nene Hilario also pounded a couple of dunks home in traffic, including this beauty over Horford.
However, Nene again struggled to defend Millsap, who is a pivotal difference-maker in this series. If the Wizards—particularly Nene—cannot slow him down in Game 5, Atlanta will likely earn another important victory.
Rest of Team: C
Ramon Sessions added 13 points and five assists, while Will Bynum chipped in 10 points. The duo tasked with filling John Wall's vacated minutes did so admirably; ball control is a key area of improvement.
Otto Porter's inconsistency showed in unfortunate fashion. He drained just one trifecta throughout 30 minutes and missed three others, even air-balling a wide-open look. Porter also committed four turnovers.
What's Next?
Game 5 is set for Wednesday, May 13, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, where the Hawks tallied a 35-6 record during the regular season. TNT will broadcast the matchup, which is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET.
Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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