After earning a split of the first two series games the No. 1 Atlanta Hawks (5-3 SU, 3-5 ATS) travel to the No. 5 Washington Wizards (5-1 SU, 5-1 ATS) Saturday for Game Three of their Eastern Conference semifinal. You can watch the game live on ESPN.
The Hawks wrote a different script for the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game, pulling away late to hand Washington its first playoff loss of the season. Atlanta was taken to the limit again but survived with a 106-90 win Tuesday that was much closer than the score indicated to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series at 1-1.
Washington won its first five playoff games, sweeping Toronto in the first round before shocking the Hawks Sunday to start the second round. They put up a fight Tuesday without their leader John Wall and nearly pulled another stunner. Good news is the team’s have three days off before resuming play Saturday. After playing seven straight games above the closing total the teams finished under on Tuesday.
KEY INJURY
Wizards guard John Wall sat out Tuesday’s game with an injured left wrist, suffered in Sunday’s game when he broke his fall under the basket after a layup. Wall was a game-time decision and coach Randy Wittman conceded, “The swelling was too much for him to handle.” Wall and Bradley Beal will have three full days to rest before Game Three on Saturday. Beal sprained his right ankle in Sunday’s game, but returned to action and started on Tuesday.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“It’s dangerous, man. It’s typical that players like to let their guard down. But they’ve got Paul Pierce over there, Bradley Beal, Ramon Sessions. They still have a very dangerous team.” – Hawks forward Kent Bazemore when he heard Wall was inactive Tuesday.
BETTING TRENDS
- Atlanta is 5-10-1 ATS in its last 16 road games.
- Washington is 3-0-2 ATS in its last five home games.
- The OVER is 8-3 in Washington’s last 11 games overall.
KEY STATS
20: Atlanta forward DeMarre Carroll scored 22 points, his sixth straight game with 20 or more, and averages 18.9 in the postseason.
21: Wizards guard Ramon Sessions scored a season-high 21 points Tuesday starting in place of the injured John Wall while seeing his most extensive action of the season at 39:37.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
After being stunned at home in Game One, Atlanta seemingly caught a break when the Wizards announced just before tipoff that starting point guard John Wall wouldn’t play because of an injured left hand. But the Hawks played like there were five John Wall’s on the court for the Wizards through the first three quarters in a game that mirrored Sunday’s contest. Atlanta built a lead early, decided to not make baskets and let the Wizards right back into it. Unlike Game One, the Hawks played much better in the final 12 minutes and pulled away to even the series.
Playing without starting point guard and leader John Wall the Wizards didn’t realize they were supposed to rollover. Instead they were a confident group and made the Hawks beat them. Ramon Sessions started in place of Wall and had a nice outing with 21 points, which was more than Wall produced in four of his five postseason games. But Sessions wasn’t the floor leader or assist man that Wall is and it’s hard not to miss your best player.
The Hawks’ best players were their best players Tuesday with DaMarre Carroll scoring 22 points, Al Horford making some huge plays when the Hawks needed them most and Paul Millsap adding a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Hawks again struggled shooting the ball and for a team that relies on its outside shooting that’s not good. With three days to mend, it’s likely John Wall is back in the lineup Saturday and the Wizards are more dangerous with him. But after playing three games in five days the Hawks will also benefit from the rest and be ready for Wall and the Wizards on Saturday.
Atlanta 104, Washington 99
The NBA spread for this game will be available at BookMaker sportsbook. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
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