Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks: Game 5 Grades and Analysis
Washington Wizards drama king Paul Pierce drained a go-ahead three-pointer with eight seconds remaining, but Al Horford conjured up some last-second magic for the Atlanta Hawks, swooping in to secure an offensive rebound and lay in the game-winning basket just before the death. Wednesday's 82-81 home win gives the Hawks a 3-2 series advantage as the Wizards now face the brink.
The see-saw game had the Hawks fritter away a first-half lead, when the Wizards closed the second quarter on a 19-6 run. Whatever Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer discussed at halftime, it worked in the third quarter as a 10-0 run pushed them into the lead. Then the Wiz opened the fourth by scoring the first nine points and holding the hosts scoreless for more than five minutes.
That set the stage for a wild finish, as back-to-back triples got the Hawks back into the tussle, and the final three-and-a-half minutes seemed packed with clutch makes. The Hawks shot 41 percent and held the Wizards to just 37.5 percent, but Pierce and Horford had their fingerprints all over the scoring when it mattered most. This was a case of he who scores last, scores best.
Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shared Pierce's comment to the Hawks bench, following his outstanding scoring effort:
| Al Horford | A |
| DeMarre Carroll | B |
| Paul Millsap | C |
| Jeff Teague | C- |
| Kyle Korver | C- |
| Rest of Team | B |
| John Wall | B |
| Marcin Gortat | B |
| Bradley Beal | B- |
| Paul Pierce | B- |
| Nene | C+ |
| Rest of Team | C- |
Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford, Center
Horford blocked three shots just in the first quarter. That set the tone for a defensive clash, but it was his offense (and offensive rebounding) that proved the difference in the end. Horford scored seven of the team's final 13 points and assisted on a go-ahead layup with 15 seconds remaining.
But the final possession typified the lunch-pail attitude that the Hawks have thrived on all year. Point guard Dennis Schroder drove on John Wall for a left-handed layup attempt that was too strong, and Horford crashed the boards in his wake, outleaping two Wizards to secure the all-important rebound, and the fray somehow left him as the only man in position to go back up.
His anticlimactic-looking layup in the final second blew the lid off the building, and Wall couldn't find the mark on his desperation heave at the buzzer.
It was fitting that Horford should save the day, as he posted a game high with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.
Grade: A
Horford noted that the team had a lot of work ahead of it, per the team's official Twitter account:
Jeff Teague, Point Guard
Turnovers plagued the Hawks throughout the game, and Teague was one of the primary culprits. That led to Budenholzer favoring Schroder down the stretch.
The Hawks booted 25 turnovers in all, with seven of them due to Teague. He still notched 14 points and five assists, but his uneven effort would have been one of the primary reasons had the Hawks lost this pivotal game at home.
Grade: C-
Paul Millsap, Power Forward
Paul Millsap was the other Hawk creating turnovers faster than a German baker. His 14 points and seven boards made for a creditable effort, but losing possession six times is an unacceptable number. Though he missed all three of his attempts from downtown, he made six out of 11 from two-point range.
But Millsap was involved in two key plays in the fourth. Firstly, he broke the absurd six-minute scoring drought with a free throw midway through the fourth quarter. Most importantly, his movement in the paint on Schroder's layup attempt drew Nene to box out, which provided Horford with the opportunity to create his game-winner. SB Nation's Mike Prada highlighted Millsap's solid performance in aiding Horford:
Grade: C
DeMarre Carroll, Small Forward
DeMarre Carroll was piping-hot from tipoff, netting seven points and three assists in the first five minutes. He cooled off substantially from there. Carroll ended with 10 points and three assists, but he also double-doubled with 10 boards.
His defense was a big reason why the Wiz shot just 37.5 percent, and he also came up with two blocks and two steals. The Hawks blocked 13 shots and all, though their 11 steals paled in comparison to Washington's 15.
Carroll also played a very unselfish game of you-take-it-OK-I-got-it with Horford on the breakaway that produced his layup, which gave the Hawks an 80-78 lead with 15 ticks on the clock.
Grade: B
Kyle Korver, Shooting Guard
Kyle Korver couldn't get anything going for nearly the entire night, but he finally got on the scoreboard by stepping into a three-pointer from way downtown with five minutes remaining. Horford followed with a triple of his own on the next possession, slicing the deficit to a single point.
Korver also poked the ball away from Pierce, leading to Carroll's go-ahead layup after the back-and-forth fast break with Horford. That was just one of Korver's game-high six steals on the night, proving that even the Hawks' three-point specialist can make a major contribution in other areas. Atlanta Hawks writer KL Chouinard shared some key stats for Korver:
Grade: C-
Rest of Team
Schroder proved to be the more reliable option at the point for crunch time, as had happened at times during the regular season. While his 3-of-12 shooting performance won't impress, he dished a team-high seven assists, as many as Wall managed in 12 fewer minutes. And though Schroder only had six points, four of those came during the final three minutes.
Mike Muscala owned one stretch during the second quarter, as he scored eight straight points for Atlanta, hitting four consecutive field-goal attempts. Those were his only eight points of the game, but he also blocked a shot and grabbed a couple of offensive boards. Peachtree Hoops shared Carroll's complimentary comments regarding Muscala's ongoing dedication:
Kent Bazemore missed all three of his shots, but he came through with five boards, two steals and two blocks in 14 minutes.
Grade: B
Washington Wizards
John Wall, Point Guard
The Wizards' star point guard battled through five non-displaced fractures in his injured left hand after saying at practice on Wednesday morning (via CSNWashington.com's J. Michael): "If you’re not confident in your ability to do what you want to do, there’s no point in playing."
Fortunately for the Wiz, he was confident in his ability, and he did play, but there was some CIA-level secrecy in his preparation. As noted by the Associated Press' Charles Odum: "The Wizards practiced at Georgia Tech on Wednesday morning with a black curtain covering the glass doors to the gym."
Following that subterfuge, Wall looked as if he only had two or three non-displaced fractures in his hand, attacking defenders and dishing crisp passes. He totaled 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting and had seven assists. He did lose six turnovers, but he grabbed four steals as well. Perhaps most tellingly, he only attempted two free throws, suggesting at least some of his aggressiveness was hampered by the hand.
The Wizards' official Twitter account posted head coach Randy Wittman's comments regarding Wall's performance:
Wall dove on the floor for a rebound with the game tied and just 33 seconds left, showcasing his effort. More amusingly, he found Bradley Beal earlier in the game with a ridiculous over-the-head pass from his own offensive end, and the cherry-picking Beal converted the fast break.
Grade: B
Bradley Beal, Shooting Guard
Beal was the big scorer for the Wizards, matching Horford's 23, but he needed 21 shots to get there, managing only nine field goals. He actually blocked a team-high three shots during his 42 minutes, proving the depth of his hustle on both ends, but he also lost five turnovers.
After an all-out, though up-and-down effort, the 21-year-old guard knows the team must rededicate itself and come up with back-to-back wins. That starts in Washington on Friday night. Per the team's official Twitter account, Beal remained upbeat regarding the team getting back on track to "accomplish its goals":
Grade: B-
Marcin Gortat, Center
Marcin Gortat piled up a strong first quarter with six points, four boards and two steals. He couldn't keep up that blistering pace against Atlanta's All-Star frontcourt, but he still got to eight rebounds and 14 points from 7-of-10 shooting. But in the end, the Wizards came up one rebound shy.
Gortat also got the friendly roll on a left-handed jump hook in the paint which tied the game at 78 apiece in the final minute, though there were still three more field goals to come.
Grade: B
Paul Pierce, Small Forward
When Pierce launched his three-point attempt from the left corner with around nine seconds on the clock, the home fans held their breath collectively and individually. TNT's cameras showed head coach Randy Wittman with his arms raised confidently even as Pierce released it, championing the success of his weak-side screen play.
Of course it went in. Because of course it did. He's "The Truth," the man who won Game 3, and surely the basketball gods would shine on him after his shot failed him in Game 4.
But Horford was truer, and Pierce left the arena a loser. He only had 11 points, four rebounds and two steals over 35 minutes, but he made two triples in the final couple of minutes and put his team in the position to steal a huge road win.
Grade: B-
Nene Hilario, Power Forward
Whatever you do, don't show Nene a replay of Horford's offensive rebound and game-winning layup. He'll start screaming Brazilian curses. However, when you view a replay of it, you'll see Millsap rolling to the hoop parallel to Schroder, and an inside pass seemed very possible.
As Nene went to Millsap to box out for the rebound, he may have miscalculated the remaining time on the clock, because there was more than enough time for Horford to win the game. He seemed to think only a tip slam could beat them.
Despite his nine points, six boards and three steals, all Nene will be able to think about is Horford's offensive rebound.
Grade: C+
Rest of Team
Otto Porter Jr. snagged 10 rebounds, five of them offensive in a big 33-minute effort off the bench. He also chipped in nine points, but that came from a downright ugly 3-of-13 shooting. The Hawks can just give him the Tony Allen treatment.
Ramon Sessions and Drew Gooden both missed all four shots they tried and scored zero points. It made for a sorry effort from the bench unit overall, but Porter's rebounding was certainly helpful.
Grade: C-
Coming Up Next
A make-or-break Game 6 tips off in the nation's capital on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. ESPN will carry the national telecast, as the Wizards must win or go home.
