The Hawks desperately needed a victory on Wednesday and came away with a 107-97 victory as 9-point favorites. Atlanta was the hungrier team in Game 5 and proved that by outrebounding Brooklyn 55-37. If that happens again in Game 6 then the Hawks will be facing the Wizards on Sunday. Game 4 was the first time in this series that the Hawks won ATS. Atlanta has lost two straight games both SU and ATS when playing at Barclays Center, but the team had won three straight games SU before those losses. This Hawks team is a remarkable 32-14 ATS when the total is greater than or equal to 200 this season. Atlanta is also 14-6 ATS on Friday nights this season. Brooklyn, however, is 16-7 ATS off of a road loss this season and 37-23 ATS when revenging a loss where its opponent scored 100 or more points over the past two seasons. PG Jeff Teague (Ankle) hurt himself last game, but he will play in this one. SG Thabo Sefolosha (Leg) is out for the season for Atlanta and SG Sergey Karasev (Leg) is out for the season for Brooklyn.
The Hawks won a big Game 5 in Atlanta and SF DeMarre Carroll (17.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.0 SPG in playoffs) continued to be one of this team’s best and most consistent players. He had 24 points, seven boards and two steals in Game 5 and must play well on both ends of the floor again in Game 6. PG Jeff Teague (17.0 PPG, 6.8 APG, 2.0 SPG in playoffs) scored 20 points and also dished out eight assists in Game 5. He injured his ankle in the second half but was able to play through it and will need to come through with another gutsy performance on Friday. SG Kyle Korver (14.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.0 BPG in playoffs) had 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the outside in Game 5. Korver will need to continue to knock down shots from behind the arc in order to space the floor and keep pressure off of his teammates. He’s now 9-for-25 from the outside over the past two games and is capable of being way more efficient than that. PF Paul Millsap (13.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 1.4 BPG) and C Al Horford (13.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.4 BPG in playoffs) combined for 30 points and 21 rebounds in Game 5. The two of them were a big reason that the Hawks outrebounded the Nets and they’ll need to be extremely tough against Brook Lopez once again on Friday.
The Nets have played well when they have needed to in this series and now they are facing elimination. In Game 5, SG Joe Johnson (17.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.0 SPG in playoffs) did everything he could to earn his team a victory but was unable to do so. Johnson had 18 points, nine boards and four assists in that game and hit some big shots in the fourth quarter to keep the game close. He’ll need to stay hot in Game 6 as well. The Nets are also going to need some good play from the point guard position. PGs Jarrett Jack (12.6 PPG, 4.4 APG, 1.4 SPG in playoffs) and Deron Williams (11.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.6 SPG in playoffs) have taken turns with who has done the damage at the position in this series. One or both of them will need to step it up in Game 6 or this team will be watching the rest of the postseason on television. C Brook Lopez (20.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.4 BPG in playoffs) struggled in Game 5, finishing with just 15 points and three rebounds on 4-for-13 shooting from the field. Lopez’s size has been a huge issue for the Hawks in this series and the Nets will need to exploit the mismatch in the post in order to stay alive and extend this series.
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