The story of the game was the Wizards continually trying to close the gap, but never fully succeeding, with that early-half run standing as perhaps the most painful. Game 4 was Beal's fourth game scoring 30 or more points, and first in the playoffs. The Wizards shooting guard led both teams in scoring with 34 points - a personal playoff high - and rounded out his stat line with six rebounds, seven assists and three steals. He battled to the bitter end, making a last-ditch effort to assert dominance with a vicious block on Dennis Schroeder's 6-foot jumper.
Beal's doing his best, and it's been an incredibly impressive performance for a 21-year-old. Primarily a shooter and occasional pick-and-roll operator, Beal is suddenly getting into the heart of a once-impressive defense, dishing to teammates and forcing defenders to think twice about staying on his hop outside.
He's not finishing all that well yet - he's shooting 40.5 percent in the series and 39.3 percent on 2-point shots - and his shot selection isn't where it needs to be. But he's being asked to regularly make plays that he's performed sparingly before, with far greater defensive attention, and acquitting himself well.
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: Hawks 106, Wizards 101 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Wednesday, May 13, TBD
Game 6*: Friday, May 15, TBD
Game 7*: Monday, May 18, 8 p.m. ET
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