Game 3: Atlanta Hawks Grades In Heartbreaking Defeat

May 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Ramon Sessions (7) dribbles the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defends in the fourth quarter in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 103-101. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Well who could have predicted that game? Atlanta dug themselves into a deep hole only to have their bench claw their way back for a fighting chance. However, buzzer-beaters may sting a little more than a blowout loss, especially when Paul Pierce is the shooter.

Despite being down 21 points with a little under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Atlanta Hawks bench surged to tie the game because of a big three pointer with 14 seconds left. But as fate would have it, the veteran Pierce banked in a contested fall away as time expired and the Washington Wizards, without John Wall, escaped 103-101 to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Atlanta Hawks were led by Jeff Teague and Dennis Schröder, who each finished with 18 points apiece, in the losing effort. Jeff and the rest of the starters will be thinking about this one a lot as they look to rebound mentally in a pivotal Game 4 to revert home court back to the Hawks. Game 4 is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Monday night at the Verizon Center.

Here are the reactions and grades in the late evolving dramatics of Game 3.

Next: What Worked