Hawks destroy Nets in Game 6, move on to face Wizards
When the Atlanta Hawks starters are clicking, it's a scary sight. Four of five scored in double digits Friday as Atlanta finally rid themselves of the pesky Brooklyn Nets, 111-87, in Game 6 of their first-round series.
The fifth starter, point guard Jeff Teague, was held scoreless. He also dished out 13 assists and finished plus-27.
The Hawks came out as their usual red-hot selves in the first quarter, outscoring Brooklyn 36-23. How effective were they? Those 36 points came on 23 possessions - for a one-quarter offensive rating of 157, on an 85 percent true shooting percentage.
The Hawks will host the Washington Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday. It's the first time Atlanta has moved on to the second round since 2011.
The Nets are going home, these T-shirts given out at Barclays Center prior to the game perhaps a bad omen.
#BoneGoal pic.twitter.com/rWR1k766JM
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) May 1, 2015
Turning point
After the Nets cut the lead to six at halftime, Atlanta put the game away by starting the second half on a 23-3 run. There are some legitimate concerns about the Hawks bench; Dennis Schroder finished the game at minus-6, Mike Scott at minus-3 and Shelvin Mack at minus-13.
But the starters were unstoppable, and Kyle Korver's trey a minute and a half into the third quarter opened the floodgates. Korver finished with 20 points, as did DeMarre Carroll.
Star performer(s)
Paul Millsap led the way with a game-high 25 points and nine rebounds. The power forward ended up shooting 47.6 percent from deep in the series. Korver, held in check by his standards in the first five games, hit a series-high six treys and finished with 20 points in Game 6.
Hawks shot 50-40-80 for the game.
— devin kharpertian (@uuords) May 2, 2015
Highlight reel
How about the Hawks' Spursian ball movement on this Millsap three? Coach Bud represent!
But even as the Nets lose, ESPN's Mike Mazzeo with this truth about owner Mikhail Prokhorov.
Mikhail Prokhorov will also party with models in Turkey on Sunday for his 50th birthday. He wins even if/when he loses. #Nets
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) May 2, 2015
Series at a glance
Game 1: Hawks 99, Nets 92 (Hawks lead 1-0)
Game 2: Hawks 96, Nets 91 (Hawks tied 2-0)
Game 3: Nets 91, Hawks 83 (Hawks lead 2-1)
Game 4: Nets 120, Hawks 115 (OT) (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Hawks 107, Nets 97 (Hawks lead 3-2)
Game 6: Hawks 111, Nets 87 (Hawks win 4-2)