Wall hits late three to send series with Celtics to Game 7
WASHINGTON — John Wall hit a three-pointer with 3.5 seconds left for the go-ahead basket, then hopped atop the scorer's table and yelled to celebrate at the conclusion of the Washington Wizards' 92-91 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday night that pushed their Eastern Conference semifinal to a Game 7.
Wall overcame a 1-of-12 start to finish with 26 points, and Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 33. The backcourt mates combined for 23 of Washington's 26 points in the backand-forth fourth quarter.
Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics showed up dressed in black, but couldn't back up the fashion statement, blowing an 87-82 lead over
the last two minutes. Thomas' heave at the buzzer clanked off the rim. He and Avery Bradley each had 27 points.
Game 7 is at Boston on Monday night. The winner will face LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East finals starting Wednesday.
The host has won all 10 games between the Wizards and Celtics this season four in the regular season and six in the playoffs.
Boston, which won Game 5 at home by 22 points, led 69-66 entering the fourth quarter of Game 6, when a relatively blah game became much more compelling. The final period was tight throughout, featuring six ties and nine lead changes.
After Bradley and Beal traded shots to even it at 89, the Celtics had the ball and, coming out of a timeout with 14.1 seconds remaining, Al Horford made a 16-foot bank shot for the lead. After another timeout, Wall made the three that would decide the outcome. When the buzzer sounded, he ran to a corner of the court, then made his way to the sideline, jumped up and yelled and popped his jersey.
The Celtics got off to a terrible start, going 4 of 17 in the first quarter and not making a field goal over the final five minutes. But Washington could not take full advantage, leading only 22- 17 after that period.
Boston kept on missing in the second period, allowing Washington to open its biggest lead at 40- 30. But some defensive lapses by the Wizards followed, and the Celtics scored the next 10 points to lead 42- 41 at halftime.
Washington fans made themselves heard, rising with loud support when Wizards substitute Kelly Oubre Jr. went in late in the first quarter and booing when Celtics reserve Kelly Olynyk entered shortly thereafter. Oubre heard obscene chants directed his way in Boston after getting ejected from Game 3, then suspended, for shoving Olynyk after a pick.
That was one of the most memorable moments from this series, which also included Thomas getting a tooth knocked out in Game 1 and producing a 53- point outburst in Game 2, then a 26-0 run by Washington in Game 4.
Now everyone will find out what Game 7 has in store. Boston will be trying to reach the East finals for the first time since 2012; Washington last reached that round in 1979.