Wizards vs. Hawks 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online

One team will leave Atlanta with a 3-2 series lead after Wednesday night.

by Satchel Price

May 13, 2015, 2:15 PM UTC

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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The series between the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards will take a major turn Wednesday night as the teams meet for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series is currently tied 2-2 after the teams traded wins in the nation's capital, and now this looms as a pivotal game that will put one team on the brink of the conference finals.

The Hawks are coming off a 106-101 victory in Game 4 that featured Jeff Teague back to his old ways and strong nights from Al Horford and Paul Millsap. Atlanta has rarely looked like the No. 1 seed during its playoff run this year, but that was one of the team's best performances since the end of the regular season.

Atlanta has lucked out a bit this series by facing Washington at less than full strength. Without all-star point guard John Wall, the Wizards aren't remotely the same team, and it's been noticeable as they've tried to move on with Ramon Sessions starting at the position.

Sessions helped the Wizards to a big win in Game 3 on Paul Pierce’s buzzer-beater, but The Truth couldn’t come through again with a clutch make late in another close game Monday night. Now Washington will have to try and win a big Game 5 on the road without its best player and essentially a seven-man rotation.

Bradley Beal has stepped up in Wall's absence, scoring a playoff-high 34 points in the Game 4 loss, but it may not be enough if the Wizards can't contain Atlanta's guards and get more from Marcin Gortat. The big man has been inconsistent in the series, and after fouling out in Game 2, he recorded just three points on 1-of-7 shooting Monday.

So the Hawks appear to be in the driver’s seat with the healthier roster and homecourt advantage, but we haven’t always seen the team take advantage of its opportunities this postseason. The ball is in their court, though, so this is a chance to assert themselves in the series.