Early in the first quarter of game four between the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat, starter Al Horford was hit with his second foul.

Atlanta head coach Mike Woodson turned and called upon backup center Zaza Pachulia.

Already with a black eye suffered in game three, Zaza was nonetheless ready for battle again.

Despite the swelling in his eye, Pachulia immediately started to throw around his 275 pound frame, grabbing, pushing, tapping the ball out and cutting to the basket for easy layups.

Zaza would play sixteen first-half minutes, tallying 7 points and 10 rebounds at halftime.

“Zaza was huge throughout the whole game,” said Woodson, “We needed all of that tonight to survive.”

Zaza would finish the game with 12 points, a playoff career-high 18 rebounds and 2 steals.  All in 34 minutes of rugged inside play.

“I don’t care how Dwyane Wade shot or how Miami played or how we played, we don’t win that game without Zaza. Period,” said Atlanta forward Marvin Williams. “He was phenomenal. What he did for our team was huge.”

“(Zaza) was tough down there,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He was pretty much doing everything in traffic. Bodies were flying. Loose balls, he seemed like he came up with every one of them. He had a major impact on the game. Eighteen rebounds … he played very well.”

James Jones, the player that accidently gave Pachulia the black eye in game three, thought Pachulia was the difference-maker  in game four.

“Zaza was the guy who every time they needed a big play, he made it. Whether it was a rebound, a tip or a layup, he was the momentum breaker tonight.” said Jones. “I think he kind of sealed our fate.”

If he’s not careful, the center from the Republic of Georgia will be known for making a name for himself during the playoffs: along with Monday’s performance was last years playoffs when he got up in the face of Boston Celtic’s star Kevin Garnett in the Hawks’ Game four win.

“Whatever my team needs,” Pachulia said. “You have to do the little things to win the game.”

Links and Resources: ‘Rocky’ Pachulia punches Hawks into 2-2 series tie with Heat (CBS Sports), Paying the price for a big win (Atlanta-Journal Constitution)