Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer elected not to foul late in a 104-98 Game 1 loss to the Wizards Sunday.
The Hawks trailed by four points, 100-96, with 1:03 remaining after an Otto Porter layup. After a Kyle Korver missed 3-pointer, Bradley Beal got a rebound with 34.9 seconds left. After nearly 20 seconds of Wizards’ offense, Marcin Gortat scored on a layup to seal the victory.
“We were going to try to get a stop,” Budenholzer said. “I think there was a 12-second differential (between the game and shot clock). We wanted to get a stop and with timeouts and advancing, there is a lot that can happen with a 12-second differential. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the stop.”
Wizards survive injury scares
The Wizards survived a couple injury scares to their potent back court.
John Wall went down in the second quarter after a fall and injured his left wrist. He never came out of the game but had it wrapped turning a timeout. Bradley Beal suffered a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter when he stepped on Al Horford’s foot. He left the court but returned as an admitted decoy.
“My wrist will be all right,” Wall said. “If it’s not broken, I’ll play through anything. (Beal) was being very aggressive for us and got our offense going and when he went down, I knew I had to be more aggressive and keep running the offense the same and making plays for my team. I made some big shots. Otto (Porter) and Marcin (Gortat), those guys had some good screens.”
For the Hawks, Jeff Teague briefly left the game after he aggravated a right sprained ankle. He briefly went to the locker room and was re-taped before returning to the game.
Wittman back in Atlanta
Wizards coach Randy Wittman just may be a coach of fewer words than Budenholzer.
Wittman, a former Hawks player from 1983-88, was asked about the emotions of a playoff series against his former team prior to Game 1.
“I can’t remember back what I did last week, let alone 27 years ago,” Wittman said. “This was where I got started in the NBA. I still have people here that I know from 30 years ago.”
When noted that the Hawks still hadn’t won a second-round playoff series since Wittman’s days, it drew a small smile and pause. A reporter next to him said “You’re not going there.”
“No, I’m not,” Wittman said.
The Hawks can move out of the second round for the first time since moving to Atlanta with a series win over the Wizards. Wittman’s last season with the Hawks, 1987-88, was the year the Hawks led the Celtics 3-2 in second round before losing the final two games.
Etc.
Prospective Hawks owner Rick Schnall was in attendance at Philips Arena. He is part of a group led by Tony Ressler that has reached a definitive sales agreement to purchase the Hawks and Phillips Arena. The deal is expected to be finalized in June. … The Hawks had 27 assists, the fifth time in seven postseason games they have had at least 25 assists. … Al Horford had his 20th career playoff double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds (eight offensive). … DeMarre Carroll’s 21 first-half points was the most by any Hawks player in any half this regular or postseason. … Wizards starting power forward Nene played just 17:25. He played only 5:24 in the second half when the Wizards went to a smaller lineup.
