NBA playoffs
Beal scores 28 in Game 1 victory
Wizards hold off Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis.
After resting up for the past week, the Washington Wizards merely had to withstand Atlanta’s early pace.
Once the Hawks ran out of gas, Bradley Beal and the Wizards took control.
Just call them the road warriors.
Beal shook off a sprained ankle to score 28 points and streaking Washington remained unbeaten in the postseason, knocking off topseeded Atlanta, 104-98, Sunday at Philips Arena in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
It was another gritty performance by the visiting Wizards, who improved to 8-1 on the road in the playoffs over the past two postseasons, including 3-0 this year.
They became the first team in NBA history to win four consecutive Game 1s on the road.
“Just withstanding adversity,” said John Wall, who had 18 points and 13 assists. “We know they’re going to come out and give us a punch right away.”
Taking advantage of a week off since their sweep of Toronto, the Wizards wore down the Hawks in the fourth quarter.
Otto Porter scored a couple of big baskets coming down the stretch, including a 3-pointer, and Marcin Gortat sealed it with a lay-in off a pass from Wall with 14.6 seconds remaining.
“We kept talking about it’s a long game,” Washington coach Randy Wittman said. “We got better and better and better.”
The Hawks needed six games to beat eight-seeded Brooklyn and had to open this best-of-seven series with about a 36-hour turnaround. After racing to a 37-26 lead after the first quarter, Atlanta couldn’t make anything in the fourth.
Even with plenty of good looks, the Hawks hit only 5 of 28 (17.9 percent) in the final period, including 1 of 10 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Atlanta.
The frustration for the home team was epitomized by one crucial possession with just more than two minutes to go. The Hawks kept giving themselves extra chances, hustling for five offensive rebounds. But they missed six shots in a row before the Wizards finally grabbed possession, the crowd groaning louder and louder with each ball that clanked off the rim.
“I had a couple of tips that just came out. I couldn’t believe it,” Al Horford said. “I think that was the key point of the game.”
Other game
Wizards 101, Grizzlies 86: Stephen Curry had 22 points and seven assists, and host Golden State wore down undermanned Memphis in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Klay Thompson added 18 points to help the top-seeded Warriors roll to their 21st consecutive victory at raucous Oracle Arena. The day kept getting better for Curry. The 27-yearold guard won his first league MVP award. An official announcement is expected today, and Curry will be presented with the award on the court before Game 2 Tuesday night. Curry carried the topseeded Warriors to a franchise-record 67 wins and surpassed his own record for most 3-pointers in a season. He’s the franchise’s first MVP since Wilt Chamberlain in 1960, when the Warriors played in Philadelphia.