ATLANTA -- The Washington Wizards moved up the Eastern Conference standings with
their first win in Atlanta in six years.
John Lackey Jersey . The Hawks are in a
free-fall in the conference and must decide if a trade-deadline move is needed
to stop their losing streak. John Wall scored 21 points and Washington recovered
after almost blowing a 20-point lead to beat the reeling Hawks 114-97 on
Wednesday night. "We needed it real bad," said Washingtons Trevor Ariza, who
made an improbable 75-foot shot to end the third quarter. "Especially if were
trying to make the playoffs these last 28 games. This one was big for us.
Especially knowing that we havent won here in a while. I think that gives us a
little bit of momentum." Paul Millsap had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and
Elton Brand, a fill-in starter at centre, had 20 points and 11 boards for the
Hawks, who have lost seven straight. Trevor Ariza and Bradley Beal each had 19
points for the Wizards, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Washington ended
an 11-game skid in Atlanta, winning for the first time since Jan. 11, 2008. The
Wizards moved a half-game ahead of Atlanta in the battle for fifth place in the
Eastern Conference. "We know its a two- or three-game spread from the third spot
and its two or three games away from being in the eighth spot or out of the
playoffs, so its definitely a tight race right now," Wall said. "Weve just got
to find a way to get on a streak. We havent been on a good streak. I think its
time for our team. We deserve a winning streak." The Hawks, who trailed by 20
points in the first half, made a third-quarter charge to twice cut the deficit
to one point. The Wizards closed the period with 3-pointers by Martell Webster
and Ariza. Arizas 3-pointer was the shot of the game -- a buzzer-beater from
near the free throw line on the other end of the floor to end the period. "Once
I let it go, it felt good," Ariza said. "I tried to do my best to go to the
bench not get too excited because we had another quarter to go. Im just happy we
got the win." Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said the 3s by Webster and Ariza
turned the momentum. "I think its a very fine margin of error for every team in
the NBA," Budenholzer said. "I think we had it down to two. Webster hit a tough
3-pointer from the corner. Then we let our guard down a little bit, and (Ariza)
made a shot from the three-quarter court. It went from a two-point game to an
eight-point game. That was a tough 15-second stretch." Washington had lost three
straight and five of six before beating the Hawks. The Hawks had only nine
players in uniform. Gustavo Ayon, who had been the fill-in starting centre, was
held out after hurting his right shoulder in Tuesday nights loss at Indiana.
Guard DeMarre Carroll missed his third straight game with a left hamstring
strain. Brand, 34, who has averaged 16 minutes as a backup, played 35 minutes
and set his season high for points, while matching his high for rebounds. Brand
wouldnt blame the teams losing streak on a shortage of players. "It seems like
were dealing with a myriad of injuries, but we definitely have enough players to
win," Brand said. "We need to find a way to win and get this monkey off our back
and stay in the race." The Hawks have a severe shortage of players at centre.
They already have lost All-Star Al Horford for the season after he had surgery
to repair his torn right pectoral muscle. Horfords backup, Pero Antic, is out
indefinitely with a stress fracture in his right ankle. Budenholzer said the
injuries do not add urgency to make a deal before Thursdays trade deadline.
Wizards centre Marcin Gortat took advantage of the Hawks lack of size, scoring
14 points with 12 rebounds. Martell Webster had 13 points. NOTES: The official
play-by-play listed Arizas shot as a 57-footer, but replays confirmed the shot
was much longer, launched from near the Hawks free-throw line. ... Washington
had seven players score in double figures. ... Ariza made five 3-pointers. ...
Kyle Korver made his first 3-pointer of the game late in the first half,
extending his NBA record to 122 consecutive games with a 3. ... G
Cartier Martin, also making his fourth start, filled in for Carroll and scored
only four points.
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. Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked
comfortable.BOSTON -- Golden State didnt need another winning, last-second
basket this time. The Warriors led by at least 20 points throughout the second
half and beat the Boston Celtics 108-88 on Wednesday night, showing no letdown
one day after edging the Indiana Pacers on a field goal with 0.6 seconds left.
Klay Thompson hit that 12-foot turnaround to beat one of the NBAs best teams,
98-96. Against one of the worst, Thompson and David Lee scored 18 points each as
the Warriors ended their road trip with a 4-2 record. "This win validates last
night," Thompson said. The Warriors were determined not to ease up against much
weaker competition than they faced at Indiana, which has the leagues best home
record. "It was big for us," Lee said. "The starters really wanted to come out
and set the tone tonight and not give the Celtics team any life." That plan
worked. The Warriors scored the first six points and led 12-2 with just over
five minutes gone as they moved a season-high 14 games over .500 with a 38-24
record. "I read where if we lost this game then that takes away (Tuesdays win).
You cannot forget how tough it is to win games in this league," Golden State
coach Mark Jackson said. "Fortunately, we did not fall in love with what we did
in Indy." The Celtics (20-41) provided little resistance and lost for the
seventh time in eight games. "It was a struggle for us," Boston coach Brad
Stevens said. "Id like to find something that I could say we were better in, but
there wasnt anything." Former Celtic Jordan Crawford had 15 points and
Stephen Curry added 14 for the Warriors, who won for the seventh time in nine
games. Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points for Boston. "We dont want to keep
embarrassing ourselves and that is the mentality we are going to have,"
Jeff Green said. Lee started the scoring with an 18-footer and Andre Iguodala
ffollowed with a layup and a dunk for a 6-0 lead.
Ron Santo Jersey. Jerryd Bayless then hit a
fadeaway jumper for Boston, but Golden State got the next six points on dunks by
Curry and Thompson and a layup by Lee. The game was still competitive when
Bayless two free throws cut Golden States lead to 42-33 with 5:55 left in the
first half. Then Thompsons 3-pointer began a 19-7 run that gave the Warriors a
61-40 lead at halftime. Baskets by Lee and Andrew Bogut made it 49-33 before
Rajon Rondo sank a free throw and Jared Sullinger made two for Boston. But then
Golden State scored the next six points on a short jumper by Lee, a dunk by
Iguodala and a 16-footer by Curry. A 3-pointer by Green cut the margin to 55-38,
but Curry followed with a 3-point play. Rondo answered with a layup before
Iguodala finished the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer with 10 seconds
remaining. The sloppy Celtics committed 12 turnovers in the first half, leading
to 15 points, while the Warriors turned the ball over just twice, leading to two
points. "What hurt us more than maybe anything were the turnovers in the first
half that led to the dunks that got those guys going," Stevens said. "I didnt
think our effort was great." The Warriors took their biggest lead, 31 points,
when two straight baskets by Thompson made it 80-49 with just over five minutes
left in the third quarter. "Theyre hitting their stride a little bit," Stevens
said. Now the Warriors head home for 13 of their remaining 20 games. "We took
care of business on the road," Lee said. "Our thought is we shouldnt lose any
more games at home." NOTES: Golden State has 20 road wins, tied with Oklahoma
City for second most in the NBA. ... Jackson rested his starters in the fourth
quarter. ... Rondo had 14 points and seven assists, but also had seven
turnovers. ... Lee had a game-high 10 rebounds, while Bogut blocked three shots.
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