NBA Playoffs 2017: Wizards vs. Celtics Game 5 live stream: Watch online

The Washington Wizards head back to Boston to face the Spurs in a crucial Game 5.

Though the NBA playoffs have been defined by two teams who have twice done their damage in only four games, Game 5 still remains the most crucial matchup for any tied series.

When a series is tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner advances 82 percent of the time. The Wizards and the Celtics have had arguably the best series of the playoffs, though outside of the Game 2 OT thriller, where Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas scored 29 points in the fourth quarter and the extra period, each win hasn’t been closer than double-digits.

In Game 4, the score was tied at 48 at the half. Then in the third quarter the Wizards went on a 26-0 run that set them up to cruise the rest of the way. Wizards point guard John Wall shot poorly from the field, but still finished with 27 points, 12 assists and one of the best sequences from this year’s playoffs:

The Wiz harassed Thomas throughout Game 4, punishing him on screens and making sure he never got anywhere on the floor without a little contact, which sparked Thomas to vent his frustrations after the game. Thomas finished with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting with five 3s, but zero free throws. The Wizards will take that any day of the week.

But, while the Wizards cruised to a Game 4 victory, there are still big questions heading into Game 5. The bench still has awful lapses and though Kelly Oubre’s return may help in some aspects of what little depth they have, their inability score will always be a concern.

Projected Starting Lineups

Wizards: John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter Jr., Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat

Celtics: Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Al Horford and Amir Johnson