By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor

Behind a game-high 22 points from DeMarre Carroll, the Atlanta Hawks emerged with a 106-90 home playoff win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night at Philips Arena. The Eastern Conference semifinals series is now tied at one game each.

The Hawks outscored the Wizards 26-15 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. The 15 points scored by Washington was the lowest point total in a single quarter this season by an Atlanta opponent.

Paul Millsap and Al Horford each had 18 points in the win. Millsap also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for a double-double. Overall the Hawks shot 43 percent overall from the field and had a successful night at the free-throw line, making 22 out of 25 attempts. Atlanta struggled from the three-point line, only making 10 out of 29 attempts but outrebounded Washington 44-40.

Washington, playing without All-Star point guard John Wall due to a left wrist injury, got a productive night from replacement starter Ramon Sessions who scored a team-high 21 points. Bradley Beal had 20 points and dished off a team-high seven assists. The Wizards shot 42 percent from the field, making 12 three-pointers.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 13-7 lead and held control throughout the first quarter. Atlanta held Washington to 38 percent shooting in the first quarter and had a 28-20 lead. The Hawks shot 52 percent in the first quarter themselves.

The Wizards outscored the Hawks 26-23 in the second quarter but still trailed at halftime 53-46.

Millsap scored a game-high 13 points in the first half for Atlanta while Carroll had 12. Overall, the Hawks shot 46 percent from the field in the first half but struggled from the three-point line, only making three out of 13 attempts. Atlanta was able to get to the free throw line in the first half often, making 10 out of 12 attempts.

Paul Pierce, Otto Porter and Beal each paced the Wizards with nine points each. Washington shot 41 percent overall in the first half and made six out of 11 three-pointers for a 55 percent clip.

The Wizards mounted a comeback attempt and a three-pointer on the right corner by Porter tied the score at 71-71 late in the third quarter. The Hawks finished the third quarter on a 9-4 run to take an 80-75 lead into the fourth.

Free throws by Kent Bazemore and a Horford layup to start the fourth quarter increased Atlanta’s lead to 84-75 with 9:55 left in game.

Leading 88-83 with six minutes left, the Hawks pushed the lead to 93-83 on a Millsap layup off of an offensive rebound and a Pero Antic three-pointer in the left corner late in the fourth quarter.