Paul Pierce Hits A Game-Winning Bank Shot Against The Hawks

The NBA playoffs are silly.

The day after Derrick Rose banked a game-winning three-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Paul Pierce followed suit with a beautiful banked shot to break the tie, putting the Washington Wizards up 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks came back from a 21-point deficit to tie the game with under 15 seconds to go. But Pierce made sure that's as close as they'd get, firing off a 21-foot jumper as the buzzer sounded.

The Wizards vet was asked after the game by ESPN's Chris Broussard if he had called "bank" on the shot. Pierce, trash-talking extraordinaire, replied without hesitation: "I called game."

Pierce finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds and a 103-101 victory. The Wizards and Hawks play game four on Monday.

Correction: Article has been updated to reflect that Pierce's shot was not a three pointer.