John Wall three-pointer sees Washington Wizards take Boston Celtics the distance

Boil away the missed layups and the cold shooting, the mistakes and the physical manner in which almost every shot was contested.

Following the loss, the Celtics were collectively resigned to the fact that Wall made an extremely hard shot in order to force a Game 7 in this series.

Wall hit a pull-up 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining as the Washington Wizards emerged with a 92-91 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Friday night.

John Wall started the game 1/11, but ended up making eight of his last 16 shots, including that game-winner. He made a game-changing play. Fortunately, Wall was bailed out by Bradley Beal (14 points in the half) and subpar offense from the Celtics, to the point where the Wizards were left with a fighting chance over the final 24 minutes. No one’s fault. No one to blame. Bradley’s hand was out but not quite in Wall’s face.

As we said earlier, Monday night, Celtics vs. Wizards at TD Garden, do not miss it.

“This was a great game”. Boston didn’t play their best game, but they certainly played better than the Wizards.

Though most of the games so far this series have lopsided, the two teams are very closely matched. Wall scored 23 of his 26 points in the second half. A wink. An instant. “He’s not anxious about his stats, he’s anxious about winning the game”. John Wall won it.

“He just made a big play for their team and that’s all I can really say”, Bradley said. Instead, Wall shot for the win.

Frankly, the clutch shooter was not the real hero for most of the night. They think the next shot is going down.

Things picked up considerably in this one in the fourth period. First he knocked down a step back jumper from the right side, and then hit a three from the right corner. After that he was 8-for-16 but all that mattered was 1-for-1. But Bradley Beal was there all game long. The decisive move alarmed Thomas, and as he retreated to the halfcourt line, his vision obstructed by the swarming defenders, he threw a lame duck pass to the middle of the floor that Washington center Marcin Gortat easily intercepted. So don’t overanalyze it.

From there, though, it was a reminder that John Wall is the best point guard in the Eastern Conference. This series has surely been intense, and Game 7 will be no different. Regardless, there will be a Game 7 and if the Wizards win, Stephen A. Smith better watch out for his butt. “Couldn’t finish it. We can’t dwell on this”. “We had some breakdowns here and there that just cost us. They want to be us so bad”, Morris said after the game.

Again, the Celtics will take that, particularly on the road, which leaves them not looking for a reset.

Brad Stevens had one message for his team after the loss.

But Bradley could do nothing defensively to stop Wall on the winning shot, coming off an inbound play that was created to get Beal the ball. “He put us on his back”.