If the Washington Wizards guards continue producing at high levels, the Atlanta Hawks might find the series over sooner than desired.
Bradley Beal scored 16 of his 31 points in the final quarter as the Washington Wizards seized a 2-0 lead in their first round National Basketball Association playoff series with a 109-101 win on Wednesday. That included the team's final seven field goals. Scott Brooks is in as Wizards coach, Dwight Howard has replaced Al Horford in Atlanta and Wall and Beal are now healthy going into the playoff rematch.
"I've seen it enough and I know now just to keep my mouth shut", Brooks said.
The Washington Wizards can take full control of this series by winning here and going up 3-0.
This was a much different game than the series opener, when Houston routed the Thunder 118-87. John Wall is averaging 32 points and 11.5 assists while Bradley Beal is averaging 26.5 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Game 3 is Saturday at Atlanta. The Wizards have won five in a row over the Hawks.
In terms of individual performances, Paul Millsap led the way with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Dennis Schröder contributed 23 points and six assists. Taurean Prince is the third double-digit scorer and Tim Hardaway Jr.is grabbing four rebounds.
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Shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha who missed the Game 1 may play in Game 2. "He's doing everything to help our team win, and when he's playing as well as he did today for us, we're unstoppable". For the first time since he signed with the Wizards, Jennings caught fire in the fourth quarter of a big game. At one point in the fourth quarter, Marcin Gortat dunked on Millsap before shoving the Hawks forward and drawing a technical foul with 3:08 left in the game. Thanks to 23 points and almost 11 assists per game this year, Wall catapulted the Wizards to a 49-33 finish and spent a good portion of the year fighting for a top 3 seed in the conference. Fair or foul, his comments set the tone for the rematch.
No team has taken so many free throws (77) in the first two games of a series and lost both since the 2008 Mavericks, who eventually lost to the New Orleans Hornets in five games in the first round.
Rondo said they wanted to be aggressive. "Wasn't too insane out there".
The third quarter, unequivocally, was better for the Hawks and it began with Washington's trio of Markieff Morris, Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre picking up a fourth foul each within the first four minutes. Howard shot just six times in Game 1 and was outplayed by Gortat.
Even in the second half, the Wizards were at their best when they were able to leverage defensive execution for offensive exploits. That lead remained until the Wizards reserves made their biggest contribution. Jennings knocked down three straight jumpers in as many possessions to pull the Wizards within two points.
Beal followed with a jumper for an 86-84 lead, one of seven lead changes in the final 7:18. His backcourt mate Bradley Beal then nailed a three-pointer with 38 seconds left to make it 106-98, effectively sealing the win. "I can't let (anybody) come out here and just push me around".
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