WASHINGTON (AP) – After John Wall told Markieff Morris what to expect in his NBA playoff debut, the Washington Wizards’ All-Star guard showed everyone his postseason best.
Wall scored a playoff career-high 32 points and dished out 14 assists and Morris added 21 points as the Wizards rebounded from a rough second quarter to beat the Atlanta Hawks 114-107 Sunday in Game 1 of their first-round series. Feeding off Morris’ hot start to the second half, Wall scored 15 points in the third quarter alone as Washington pulled away to take the series lead.
“John can take over games, he can take over quarters, he can take over plays,” coach Scott Brooks said. “He’s a tremendous competitor and he plays with toughness and he gets shots – 32 and 14, that’s high level All-Star game.”
Wall hadn’t forgotten the five fractures in his left hand and wrist that cost him three games against Atlanta two years ago, a series Washington lost as a result. Conscious that he couldn’t do it all himself, Wall embraced the role as defensive stopper and facilitator on Sunday.
Seconds after feeding Morris for a dunk in his monster third quarter, Wall pointed to the court to deliver the message: “This is my house.”