NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference - Semifinals
Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Washington -3.0, Total: 197.0

The Hawks look to close out the series when they head to Washington and take on the Wizards in Game 6 Friday.

Washington almost stole Game 5 at Philips Arena, but ended up losing 82-81 at the buzzer as 7-point underdogs. Both teams were horrible offensively, as the Hawks shot just 41.0% from the floor and the Wizards shot 37.5%. The teams combined to shoot just 9-for-39 from the outside and also combined to have an embarrassing 42 turnovers as well. Prior to the Hawks winning-and-covering in Washington in Game 4, the Wizards had won five of the past six games played between these teams at the Verizon Center SU. The Hawks are, however, 3-1-1 ATS in their past five trips to Washington. Atlanta is 15-6 ATS on Friday nights this season and 18-8 ATS after failing to cover in two of its past three games this year as well. Washington, however, is 13-4 ATS when revenging a close loss of three points or less versus an opponent over the past two seasons. The Wizards also face a Hawks team that is just 6-21 ATS in the second round of the playoffs since 1996. PG John Wall (Wrist) will play for the Wizards on Friday, but SG Thabo Sefolosha (Leg) is out for the season for the Hawks.

The Hawks have not looked like the dominant team they were in the regular season, but they have won two huge games in a row. C Al Horford (15.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.7 BPG in playoffs) was the hero of Game 5, putting up 23 points with 11 rebounds and five blocks. Horford won the game at the buzzer for the Hawks after grabbing an offensive rebound out of a huge crowd and putting the ball in as time expired. He’ll need to play with the same intensity in Game 6 in order to end this series. PF Paul Millsap (15.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.0 SPG in playoffs) is going to need to play a lot better than he did on Wednesday. He had 14 points and seven rebounds, but he also turned the ball over six times and was 0-for-3 from the outside. He has to make better decisions and make a bigger impact on the glass. PG Jeff Teague (14.8 PPG, 7.5 APG in playoffs) also has to be better as a decision maker. He had 14 points and five assists on Wednesday, but he also turned the ball over seven times. It will be tough to win on the road if he makes that many mistakes on Friday. SG Kyle Korver (12.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.3 BPG in playoffs) is really struggling from the outside. Over the past five games, the Hawks’ sniper is shooting just 34.3% from three. He’s going to have to find his stroke soon and the law of averages suggests he will.

The Wizards were unable to close out Game 5 in Atlanta and they’ll now try to keep the series alive by winning in front of their fans. PG John Wall (17.0 PPG, 11.7 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG in playoffs) showed a lot of toughness by coming back with a broken wrist in Game 5. He had 15 points, seven assists, four steals and two blocks on Wednesday and will need to bring the same energy in Game 6. SF Paul Pierce (15.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG in playoffs) hit the three that put the Wizards up one before Horford put in the game-winner. Pierce is averaging 16.0 PPG in this series and has hit big shots whenever his team has needed him to. He’ll need to continue to play well offensively moving forward. SG Bradley Beal (22.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.7 SPG in playoffs) continues to be this team’s best offensive weapon in the postseason. Beal is averaging 24.4 PPG in this series and will be counted on to continue scoring with Wall playing injured. He was off in Game 5, going just 9-for-21 from the field and 1-for-5 from three. He should be better playing in Washington on Friday. C Marcin Gortat (13.6 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs) must do a better job of containing Al Horford in Game 6. The Hawks big man really outplayed him on Wednesday and that can’t happen again if the Wizards want to keep their season alive.