Pierce's buzzer-beater helps Wizards avoid epic collapse in Game 3 win over Hawks

After dominating the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks all afternoon, the John Wall-less Washington Wizards flirted with disaster, blowing a 20-point lead over the final eight minutes of Game 3.

Then The Truth, and the backboard, set them free, as a banked-in Paul Pierce buzzer-beater lifted the Wizards to a 103-101 win and a 2-1 series lead in front of a frenetic D.C. crowd.

Turning Point

The Wizards escaped with a thrilling victory, but the game's turning point was an unlikely cast of Hawks reserves spurring Atlanta to an unfathomable comeback.

A Dennis Schroder bucket with 7:22 remaining cut Washington's lead to 94-76, with Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer seemingly waving the white flag immediately afterwards, pulling Schroder and starting point guard Jeff Teague in favor of seldom used guards John Jenkins and Shelvin Mack.

Schroder returned to the game less than a minute later, and a unit of Schroder, Mack, Kent Bazemore, Mike Scott and Mike Muscala - with Kyle Korver replacing Bazemore later in the period - led Atlanta to a game-tying, 27-7 run over a 7:08 span, capped by a Muscala 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining.

It still wasn't enough.

Star Performer

Marcin Gortat.

Game 3 will be remembered (from a Wizards perspective, anyway) for Pierce's shot and Otto Porter's career-game off the bench, and Nene put together his best performance of the postseason thus far, but Gortat was the best and most consistent Wizard all day.

The Polish Hammer finished with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting to go with eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal, while posting a team-high plus-minus of +12 in 34 minutes of action.

Highlight Reel

Pierce saves a broken play and reminds us, yet again, why they brought him here:

Porter punctuates some beautiful Wizards passing, getting Wall mildly excited:

• Muscala completes the Hawks' improbable comeback
• Teague was lucky to avoid ejection on this dangerous fast-break foul

Series At A Glance

Game 1: Wizards 104, Hawks 98 (Wizards lead 1-0)
Game 2: Hawks 106, Wizards 90 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Wizards 103, Hawks 101 (Wizards lead 2-1)
Game 4: Monday, May 11, 7 p.m. ET
Game 5: Wednesday, May 13, TBD
Game 6*: Friday, May 15, TBD
Game 7*: Monday, May 18, 8 p.m. ET

*If necessary