Wizards eliminate Hawks behind Wall's playoff career-high 42 points
John Wall took over Friday to end the Atlanta Hawks' campaign.
The All-Star point guard scored a playoff career-high 42 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 115-99 Game 6 victory, eliminating their Southeast Division rivals in the process.
With the 4-2 series win, the Wizards advance to the East semifinals where they'll face the Boston Celtics, who sent the Chicago Bulls packing with a Game 6 win of their own.
During a night full of highlights for Wall, perhaps no play was more crucial than this ruthless chase-down denial on Dennis Schroder that stymied Atlanta's comeback effort in the fourth quarter:
Related: John Wall keeps dunking all over the Hawks
In addition to his 42 points on a true shooting percentage of 71.4, Wall chipped in eight dimes, four steals, and two blocks. The 26-year-old joins Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only players to record such a stat line in a Game 6 of 7 win.
Optimus Dime tormented Atlanta throughout the first-round series.
Wall vs. Hawks
G | MIN | PTS | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | STL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 38.7 | 29.5 | 52.5 | 47.4 | 84 | 4 | 10.3 | 1.7 |
Paul Millsap led the way for Atlanta with 31 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat. The All-Star forward is expected to exercise the player option on his deal for 2017-18 so he can test the free-agent market this summer.
Celtics-Wizards begins Sunday at TD Garden.