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Hawks' momentum may trump Wizards' home-court edge

WASHINGTON -- The basic and perhaps charitable view for the Washington Wizards goes something like this: They still have home-court advantage in their best-of-seven, Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

However, after watching the previous two games in Atlanta, it is fair to think the momentum lies with the Hawks.

The fifth-seeded Hawks beat the fourth-seeded Wizards by convincing margins in both Game 3 and Game 4. Game 5 is Wednesday in Washington.

Atlanta dominated the second and fourth quarters in the 111-101 win in Game 4 on Monday.

"This game was very important for us," Hawks big man Dwight Howard said. "I think we came out with the right mentality from the beginning of the game to the end. This is something we needed. The first two games, we felt like we were right there. A couple of mistakes cost us. These last two games, we stayed together, played as hard as we (could) and we got a good win."

Washington led 35-28 after the first quarter and got Atlanta point guard Dennis Schroder to the bench with three fouls. Instead of fading further, the Hawks outscored the Wizards 31-15 on the second thanks to needed production from guards Jose Calderon and Kent Bazemore.

"Our defense picked up in both the second quarter and the fourth quarter," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "After they came out, they threw a big blow. They started out really well and had a heck of a first quarter. To hold them to 15 in that second quarter and us going to halftime up nine was big."

Schroder, one of seven Hawks in double-figure scorers, helped seal the win with a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth.

Paul Millsap had 19 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Schroder scored 18. Howard, quiet earlier in the series, finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

While Atlanta had balance offensively, Washington remained top-heavy. Bradley Beal scored 32 points, and John Wall, who played 40 minutes, had 22 points and 10 assists.

"Teams go on runs. It's just a matter of how we retaliate and how we bounce back from it," Beal said. "It was just too up and down. Again, we were playing catch-up in the fourth and just trying to catch up and just trying to take the lead again. You spend all your time and energy playing catch-up, it kind of wears on you down the stretch."

For Washington, finding consistent production beyond the starry backcourt has been an issue.

One of the top 3-point shooting teams during the regular season, the Wizards are hitting a playoff-low 29.7 percent after four games. They were also outscored in fastbreak points Monday despite Wall's up-tempo presence.

The consistent misfiring has leaked into the Wizards' defensive work.

"We just have to play defense. We have to stick together," said Washington's Markieff Morris. The starting forward was saddled with foul trouble for a third straight game after scoring 21 points in the opener. "That was one of those games where we just have to come together when we're not making shots. We have to focus on getting stops and try to keep the game close."

Atlanta hosts Game 6 on Friday, and the series would move back to Washington for Game 7 on Sunday if necessary.

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