What fractured wrist? John Wall showed no signs of struggled from his reported injured wrist when he returned to the court in Game 5 after sitting out the previous two games with the Washington Wizards. However, it was not enough to overcome a buzzer-beat shot by Al Horford to give the Atlanta Hawks the win and series lead. Now the Hawks are hoping to wrap things up on Friday night, but the Wizards have home court advantage they intend to use.
Despite the five non-displaced fractures in his wrist, Wall managed to put up 15 points and seven assists in Game 5 while committing six turnovers. The point guard is hoping that after not having any swelling or pain in his wrist following the game, it means that his performance will improve enough to give the Wizards a Game 6 win and extend the series once more. Game 5 ended in thrilling fashion. Paul Pierce who already had one game-winning shot to his name, thought he had another when he hit a 3-point shot with eight seconds left to play. He was so confident, he yelled "series" towards the Atlanta bench. In the end, Horford got the put-back from a missed layup by Dennis Schroder with one second left on the clock and Atlanta won the game.
The Hawks would like to wrap things up on Friday, but have got to find some offensive consistency in order to do so. Road games have been an issue for the team this post season which is the first major hump to get over. Kyle Korver has been a ghost in the second round, getting just one 3-point basket in Game 5. Paul Millsap has had consistency issues as well. The Hawks have a chance to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1968 when they relocated from St; Louis, but it will not be an easy task.
Horford will once again be relied on heavily as he has struggled to defend Marcin Gortat. The center was crucial in Atlanta's 14-0 run in the fourth quarterback, getting seven of his 23 points during that span. Dennis Schroder player a huge part as well. He was the reason Jeff Teague sat on the bench for the final five minutes of the game. Schroder did well defending Bradley Beal who was held scoreless in the final six minutes of the game.
The Wizards are hoping Wall is enough to get them to a Game 7. The Hawks have to improve their road-game play if they want to wrap things up and get some rest as the Cleveland Cavaliers will be awaiting the series winner.
