2017 NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference First Round Game #5
#5 Atlanta Hawks at #4 Washington Wizards
Best of Seven Series Tied 2-2
Wednesday, April 26, 2017, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Verizon Center – Washington, District of Columbia
Opening Line: Washington -5 1/2
Current Line: Washington -5 1/2
Opening Total: 212
Current Total: 212 1/2
Opening Money Line: Wizards -220 / Hawks +180
Current Money Line: Wizards -240 / Hawks +200
While the road team has won every game in the Celtics-Bulls series, the opposite is true in the series between the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks. The home team has won every game as they play game five in Washington Wednesday night.
Washington is coached by Scott Brooks. The Wizards were 49-33 in the regular season and are the #4 seed in the East. The Wizards are 44-41-1 ATS and the total is 54-32 this season. Atlanta is coached by Mike Budenholzer. The Hawks were 43-39 in the regular season and are the #5 seed in the East. The Hawks are 41-45 ATS and the total is 35-49-2.
Washington won game one 114-107 and game two 109-101, both at home. Atlanta won game three 116-98 and game four 111-101 Monday night, both at home. In game four, Atlanta was a 2.5 point favorite and the total was 211.5. Washington led 35-28 at the end of the first, but Atlanta would lead 59-50 at halftime. The Hawks held the Wizards to just 15 points in the second quarter. Washington would tie it up at 77 by the end of the third. Atlanta would never trail in the fourth quarter, but could never put them away. The Hawks got up by double digits a couple of times, but Washington kept fighting back. Atlanta led 111-101 with just over a minute left and neither team scored again.
Washington shot 36/85 from the field including 11/32 from three point range. The Wizards made 18/23 free throws. Washington had 52 rebounds, 19 assists, 15 turnovers, 7 steals and 5 blocks. The Wizards had 12 fast break points and 30 points in the paint. Atlanta shot 40/90 from the field including 12/31 from three point range. The Hawks made 19/25 of free throws. Atlanta had 58 rebounds, 24 assists, 12 turnovers, 7 steals and a block. The Hawks had 14 fast break points and 44 points in the paint.
All five Atlanta starters scored in double digits. Paul Millsap had 19 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. Dennis Schroder had 18 points, and 3 rebounds. Dwight Howard had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Kent Bazemore had 16 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals off the bench. Tim Hardaway, Jr. had 15 points. Taurean Prince had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Jose Calderon had 10 points and 5 assists. Bradley Beal had 32 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for the Wizards. John Wall had 22 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Otto Porter, Jr. and Bojan Bogdanovic each had 13 points.
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Atlanta is being outscored 104-103 this season. The Hawks are #10 in points allowed but #22 in scoring. Atlanta is shooting 45.1% from the field and 34.1% from 3 point range. Atlanta is shooting 72.8% from the free throw line and are #28 in that category. Opponents are shooting 44.4% from the field and 35.7% from 3 point range. The Hawks are #5 in field goal defense. Atlanta averages 44.4 rebounds and opponents average 43.9 per game. The Hawks are #9 in rebounding. Atlanta averages 23.6 assists, 14.2 turnovers, 8.2 steals and 4.8 blocks per game.
Forward Paul Millsap averages 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Dennis Schroder averages 17.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1 steal per game. Tim Hardaway, Jr. averages 14.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Dwight Howard averages 13.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. Howard is probable with a back injury. Kent Bazemore averages 11 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Ersan Ilyasova averages 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Thabo Sefolosha, Mike Muscala, Taurean Prince, Mike Dunleavy, Malcolm Delaney, Kris Humphries and Jose Calderon will also get minutes in the rotation.
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Washington is outscoring teams 109-107 this season. The Wizards are #5 in scoring but #21 in points allowed in the NBA. Washington is shooting 47.5% from the field and 37.2% from 3 point range. The Wizards are in the top ten in both categories. Washington makes 78.4% from the free throw line. Opponents are shooting 46.6% from the field and 36.4% from 3 point range. Washington is #20 or worse in both categories. The Wizards average 42.8 rebounds per game and opponents average 43 per game. The Wizards average 23.9 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 8.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.
John Wall averages 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 2 blocks per game. Bradley Beal averages 23.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Markieff Morris averages 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Otto Porter, Jr. averages 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 12.7 points and 3.1 assists per game. Marcin Gortat averages 10.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Marcus Thornton, Kelly Oubre, Jr., Jason Smith, Ian Mahinmi. Trey Burke and Brandon Jennings will also get time in the rotation. Mahinmi is out until late April with a calf injury.
Atlanta is 6-1 ATS after a straight up win, 4-1 after a cover, 5-2 on one day rest and after scoring 100 points or more, 7-3 against teams with winning records, 6-13 against Southeast teams, 2-5 in Wednesday games, and 1-4 in road games. The under is 4-1 in this series in Washington recently.
Washington is 8-2 ATS in first round games, 4-1 at home, against teams with losing road records and after scoring 100 points or more, 7-18-1 on one day rest, 3-8 after a straight up loss and against teams with winning records, and 3-9 after a cover. The favorite and home team are both 4-0 ATS in this series recently. The Wizards 4-1 ATS at home against the Hawks.
Besides game three, every other game has been competitive into the fourth. I see another close game, but I like the Wizards to win at home in a high scoring game.
