Paul Millsap Says Wizards 'Were Playing MMA' During Game 1 Win vs. Hawks

Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap took issue with the Washington Wizards' game plan in the opening game of their first-round playoff series Sunday.

"The difference in the game was we were playing basketball and they were playing MMA," Millsap said, per Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "They were physical. When the game is like that we have to match their physicality. But again, we've got to go get some moves and bring them back to the court."

Referees only called three more fouls on Washington (25) compared to Atlanta (22), but the Hawks owned a 39-17 advantage in free throws.

Millsap might have scored 19 points in Atlanta's 114-107 defeat, but Marcin Gortat's dunk on the four-time All-Star is one of the lasting images from the game. Gortat earned a technical foul for shoving Millsap after throwing down a one-handed jam late in the fourth quarter:

The Washington Post's Master Tesfatsion didn't think Millsap's comments reflected well on him:

The best way for Millsap and the Hawks to exact revenge for Washington's physical tactics will be wresting home-court advantage away from the Wizards in Game 2.

Atlanta and Washington will meet again in the nation's capital Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

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