NBA playoffs: Celtics, Wizards take command with 3-2 series leads

Dwyane Wade said it best.

No matter how the Bulls and Celtics got to this spot, with Chicago winning the first two on the road, followed by Boston winning the next two on the road, the teams will enter Friday's Game 6 with the better team hoping to close out the pesky eighth seed.

Finally, in Wednesday's Game 5, the Celtics held court to the tune of 108-97.

Isaiah Thomas, who struggled mightily from the field, and Avery Bradley paced Boston with 24 points a piece. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg was asked if he thought Thomas carried the ball. Given his pointed comments earlier in the series on Thomas' habits, you can't fault Hoiberg for leaving the podium.

And even if the Celtics go on to win four straight and oust the Bulls, you can't say Hoiberg is in over his head.

This time, it was clear it was a different Bulls team playing on the road. First, you had Wade playing "defense" on this possession:

Then, Robin Lopez had trouble finding the hoop -- er, backboard -- from close range:

You can say the Celtics aren't above a bit of gamesmanship, though.

Wizards 103, Hawks 99

The other series in action Wednesday, in contrast, has seen the home team win every game of the series.

"Nobody has taken over the series because (of it)," John Wall said after his Wizards dispatched the Hawks in Game 5. If they take Game 6 in Atlanta, they'll book a date vs. the winner of Chicago-Boston.

If Wall does more things like this, they'll wrap this series up in short order.

Atlanta PG Dennis Schroder (29 points, 11 assists) made a bit of history in the loss, joining Pistol Pete in the Hawks' record books.

Kerr *could* come back from injury

When it comes to Steve Kerr, the Warriors sound confident that he'll eventually return to full health. When that might be is still a looming question.

"It's not easy, but it's not insurmountable," Warriors GM Bob Myers said.

Rockets owner hit hard with fine

The talk was not cheap for Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander, who found himself facing a $100K fine for confronting an official during Tuesday night's Game 5 between the Rockets and Thunder.

Thursday's schedule

Game 6: Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. (Raptors lead 3-2)

Game 6: San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies, 9:30 p.m. (Spurs lead 3-2)

PHOTOS: Best of the first round