Atlanta Hawks use fourth quarter surge to down Washington Wizards

The Atlanta Hawks took on John Wall and the division leading Washington Wizards on Tuesday night seeking a much needed road win. The Hawks surged in the fourth quarter, and in the end, it was enough to get past the poor-shooting Wizards in a 106-102 victory.

Coming into Tuesday, Atlanta was just 1-4 on the road, while the Wizards had only lost one home game all season. The featured match-up of the night was at the point guard position. Jeff Teague and John Wall dominated the floor with each leading their teams in scoring (28 and 21 points, respectively). Where the Hawks were able to separate themselves from the Wizards was with stellar bench play. Mike Scott had 17 points and 7 boards, and Shelvin Mack was able to deliver with 13 points, 5 assists, and 3 boards off the bench.

Despite the Wizards owning the offensive glass, they were only able to shoot 43% and Washington turned the ball over 25 times, which ultimately was their downfall. The recently healthy DeMarre Carroll had four steals, and as usual, he was a much needed boost to a struggling Hawks defense. Atlanta was able to take advantage of those turnovers scoring 32 points off them on their way to shooting 45% from the field. Both teams had five players in double figures, but the 38 points in the last frame for the Hawks was the impetus in securing the four-point victory at the Verizon Center.

The Atlanta Hawks head home for a long, four-game homestand, which will feature the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, followed by the Pelicans, Hornets, and Celtics. Be sure to check in tomorrow for a full preview of Wednesday’s game against Toronto.