ATLANTA – With its tame crowd and expanses of empty seats, Philips Arena is hardly the most intimidating building in the NBA. Yet it has been the location for several heartbreaking losses for John Wall and the Washington Wizards in recent years.
When the Wizards arrived in Atlanta, the city was one of three Eastern Conference cities where Wall had never won since turning pro. That changed Wednesday, when the Wizards were able to take advantage of an injury-riddled Hawks team to win, 114-97, snapping an 11-game losing streak dating back to Jan. 11, 2008.
Wall had a team-high 21 points, finishing his night — and sending many of the annoucned crowd of 13,529 to the exits – with a fadeway three-pointer and smiling as he headed to the bench. The win was significant for more reasons than ending a confounding streak, it also allowed the Wizards to take a half-game lead over the Hawks for fifth place in the East and snapped their three-game losing streak.
Wall also added a game-high 12 assists, finding center Marcin Gortat for an alley-oop late that secured a victory that got a tad to close for comfort after Washington had built a 20-point first half lead.
Seven players scored in double figures with Bradley Beal and Trevor Ariza both scoring 19 points and combining to make seven three-pointers. Gortat had 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds as the Wizards improved to 26-28.
The Wizards weren’t going to get many better opportunities to end one of their more baffling skids. The Hawks arrived at home depleted, undermanned, undersized and on a six-game losing streak.
All-star center Al Horford, who made the buzzer-beating jumper to give the Hawks a 101-99 overtime win when the teams met on Dec. 13, is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. His replacement, Pero Antic, was out with a stress fracture in his right ankle. His backup, Gustavo Ayon, was out with right shoulder injury. So that left the Hawks with just 6-foot-8 Elton Brand as the lone center on the roster, giving the Wizards a decided advantage inside with a starting front line that featured 6-11 big men Nene and Gortat – and the 6-8 Ariza.
Despite the advantage, the Wizards didn’t overemphasize getting the ball inside and instead relied on their sharp shooting from beyond the three-point line. A night after being held to just four three-pointers against Toronto, the Wizards made 12 shots from long distance, with Ariza nailing five – including a 57-foot heave at the end of the third quarter.
Beal made two three-pointers and scored 15 points in the first half, giving the Wizards a 50-30 lead midway through the second period. Wall later stole a pass from Hawks rookie Dennis Schroder, raced up the floor and threw down a two-handed dunk to give the Wizards a 56-37 lead with 1:56 left in the second period. But the Wizards completely mishandled the end of the half, as Kyle Korver extended his record streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to 122 as part of an 11-2 Hawks run befroe intermission.
The Hawks carried the momentum out of the locker room and took advantage of the Wizards’ inability to stay focused for a complete game. Atlanta opened the third period on a 20-10 run to get within one when Hawks all-star forward Paul Millsap made a short jumper.
Millsap later beat Ariza along the foul line, driving into the lane and finding Brand for a dunk that brought the Hawks within 72-71. Wall then responded with an off-balance three-pointer to barely beat the shot clock and give the Wizards a little breathing room.
Backup forward Trevor Booker pushed the lead up to 83-77 when he caught a pass and shook the rim with a two-handed dunk. But the Hawks wouldn’t go away, getting within two after Millsap made a bank shot.
Booker finished with 12 points and a game-high four steals while Martell Webster made three three-pointers and finished with 16 points.
Millsap led the Hawks (25-28) with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Brand added 20 points and 11 rebounds.
