Hawks score with 1.9 seconds left to defeat Wizards, take series lead

Al Horford snatched away an offensive rebound and dropped in the winning basket with 1.9 seconds left after Dennis Schroder’s drive to the basket was blocked by John Wall, giving the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks an 82-81 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night and a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Paul Pierce, who made a buzzer-beating winner in Game 3, appeared to have doomed the Hawks again when his 3-pointer from the corner gave the Wizards an 81-80 lead with 8.3 seconds left.

Wall, playing for the first time since Game 1 after fracturing several bones in his left hand, fell to the court in celebration. Pierce taunted the Hawks bench and home crowd on his way back down the court.

Atlanta had one last chance. Schroder drove down the lane but has his layup was blocked by Wall. Horford snatched the ball away from Nene, who tumbled to the court.

Uncontested, the Hawks center put in the winner.