The Atlanta Hawks will look to seal a series win on Friday night as they take on the Washington Wizards in Game 6 with the Cleveland Cavaliers waiting.
Where: Verizon Center, Washington.
When: Saturday May 16, 00:00 (UK time)
Watch live: Click here to watch on BT Sport online!
Paul Pierce has established himself as the main antagoniser this post-season, as after his antics against the Toronto Raptors he has extended it through to this series.
Having ‘called game’ with his buzzer-beater in Game 3, ‘the Truth’ was almost responsible for handing the Wizards a 3-2 series lead on Wednesday night when he hit a three-pointer with just seconds remaining.
While he turned to the Hawks bench and suggested that was the series, Al Horford had other ideas as he went down the other end of the court for a put-back which ultimately turned out to be the game winner.
As a result, Washington are now on the brink of elimination and must protect home court in order to ensure that this goes to a decider on Sunday.
Another loss to the Hawks and the season is over, with the No.1 seed hoping to see off their rivals and advance to take on the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Coach Mike Budenholzer will want to see more team basketball from his players as well as increased intensity and energy on the defensive end to claim a decisive road win, and they have the roster capable of doing it.
Should they win, they will reach the conference finals for the first time since relocating from St Louis in 1968, and it would be a significant achievement for a team that didn’t harbour realistic hopes of getting this far this season.
Wizards point guard John Wall is expected to play after coming through last time out without any deterioration in his fractured left wrist, and he will be desperate to keep his team’s hopes alive along with the likes of Bradley Beal and Pierce who have performed so well in the playoffs so far.
Prediction: This is the end of the road for the Wizards as the Hawks will wrap things up in style and set up a clash with the Cavs in the EC Finals.
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