After dominating for three and a half quarters, the final six minutes of Game 3 almost unraveled everything the Washington Wizards had done up to that point.
Hawks vs. Wizards 2015 results: Paul Pierce’s banked jumper beats Atlanta
Washington blew a 20-point fourth-quarter lead but Pierce saved them with a dagger as the buzzer sounded.
Instead, a stepback fadeaway from Paul Pierce kissed right off the glass for another bank shot buzzer-beater and the Wizards escaped with a 103-101 win in regulation.
Up by 20 with less than eight minutes left in the fourth, Washington fell apart and the Atlanta Hawks nearly took advantage. Washington went nearly five minutes without scoring and the Hawks, who had looked lifeless most of the game, finally came alive offensively to cut the lead to three with three minutes to play. The two teams traded baskets, and with 10 seconds left a wild play led to a game-tying Mike Muscala three-pointer.
The Wizards had dug their grave but Paul Pierce refused to be buried in it. For the second time in two nights, the NBA had a bank shot game-winner as time expired, this time courtesy of The Truth.
Washington's win came without John Wall, who missed his second straight game with fractures in his hand and wrist. Nene, who entered the game without a made field goal in the series, helped make up the difference -- he led Washington with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Otto Porter Jr. also had an excellent game off the bench, tallying 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Atlanta caught a break in the first half when Jeff Teague was not ejected on a hard foul that sent Bradley Beal tumbling into the basket's stanchion. It was ruled a Flagrant 1, allowing Teague to stay in the game, but it did nothing to spark the Hawks' point guard. Teague has had a dismal series and didn't play much better in Atlanta's first round series against Brooklyn. He finished with 18 points on 5-of-15 shooting.
Here are three things we learned.
1. That’s why Paul Pierce is here
“That’s why I’m here,” Pierce said after nailing a dagger three-pointer against the Raptors in the first round. In all seriousness, this is why he’s here. This Wizards team wasn’t expected to have to play without their best player, Wall. They didn’t think they’d blow a 20-point lead. Nobody could have expect Mike Muscala, who only played 40 games this season, to tie it up. But bailing them out at the very end was the veteran Pierce, who has been here a hundred times before and lives for moments like these.
2. Korver can’t find any shots
One of the main reasons Washington leads this series 2-1 is the defensive job they’ve played on Kyle Korver. The NBA’s leading three-point shooter is still money when he has shots, but on Saturday he only had five of them. He made 2-of-5 for six points, which just isn’t good enough for a Hawks team that is lagging behind Washington offensively.
When Korver entered in the final three minutes, Atlanta adjusted and sprung several open three-point shooters off of Korver decoy action. But none of them hit and the Hawks eventually fell short.
3. Watch that hand, John! Please?
Wall didn’t play, but because of the way Washington dominated for three and a half quarters, they constantly cut to him celebrating a successful Wizards play. You have to love the way he stayed engaged and cheered on his teammates with a passion, but every single time he wildly swung his arms, I was terrified he was going to hit his injured wrist against someone or something. This isn’t even the most egregious example and see what I mean?
AHHH JOHN PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
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