ATLANTA >> Bradley Beal shook off a sprained ankle to score 28 points and the Washington Wizards remained unbeaten in the postseason, knocking off the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks 104-98 Sunday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Taking advantage of a week off since their sweep of Toronto in the opening round, the Wizards wore down the Hawks in the fourth quarter. Otto Porter scored a couple of big baskets coming down the stretch and Marcin Gortat sealed it with a lay-in off a pass from John Wall with 14.6 seconds remaining.

The Wizards became the first team in NBA history to win four straight Game 1s on the road.

The Hawks needed six games to beat eight-seeded Brooklyn and had to open this best-of-seven series with about a 36-hour turnaround. After racing to a 37-26 lead after the first quarter, Atlanta couldn’t make anything in the fourth.

Even with plenty of good looks, the Hawks shot just 5 of 28 in the final period.

The frustration for the home team was epitomized by one crucial possession in the closing minutes. The Hawks kept giving themselves extra chances, hustling for five offensive rebounds. But they missed six straight shots before the Wizards finally grabbed possession, the crowd groaning louder and louder with each ball that clanked off the rim.

DeMarre Carroll had another big game for Atlanta with 24 points, but he went scoreless in the final quarter. He had plenty of company. Kyle Korver made only 5 of 15 shots, Al Horford was 7 of 19, and Jeff Teague went 4 of 14.

The Hawks picked right up where they left off in 111-87 victory Friday night at Brooklyn to finish off the Nets. Atlanta ran the Wizards ragged, hit 64 percent from the field, and led 37-26 at the end of their highest-scoring first quarter of the postseason.

But the 36-hour turnaround before Game 1 against the well-rested Wizards clearly caught up with the Hawks in the second half. They finished just 38 percent (37 of 98) from the field.

Beal hobbled off the court with a sprained right ankle after landing on Horford’s foot. After going to the locker room to get it taped, he returned to the court to finish out a superb performance at both ends of the court.

In addition to hitting 9 of 22 shots, he grabbed seven rebounds and did a good job shadowing Korver at the 3-point stripe. Atlanta’s long-range specialist made only 3 of 11 from beyond the arc.

Wall had 18 points and 13 assists, Paul Pierce had 19 points and Gooden provided some key minutes off the bench, finishing with 12.

TIP-INS

Wizards: Wall sprained his left wrist on a fall under the basket but was able to stay in the game. … Nene got into early foul trouble, played less than 18 minutes and failed to score.

Hawks: Carroll became the first Hawks player since Dominique Wilkins in 1989 to score 20 points in five straight playoffs games. … Atlanta lost for the first time this season when leading going to the fourth quarter. They were 29-0 during the regular season and had been 3-0 in the postseason.

HOMECOMING OF SORTS

Wizards coach Randy Wittman returned to the city where he began his NBA career as a player.

Asked if he had any memories of that time, the 55-year-old Wittman quipped, “I can’t remember what I did last week.”

Wittman was actually drafted by Washington in the first round of the 1983 draft, only to be dealt to the Hawks a week later. He spent five seasons with Atlanta, averaging a career-best 12.9 points a game in 1985-86.

“I’ve still got people in Atlanta I know from 30 years ago,” he said. “But that’s about it.”