All the momentum in this series is on the side of the Atlanta Hawks. They’ve done really well to win the first two games at home, and all the pressure is now on the Boston Celtics to take care of business on their own home floor. Can they relocate their rhythm, and ultimately take Game 3 at the TD Garden? Or will the Hawks continue soaring?
Read on below for everything you need to know about this crucial matchup. And while you’re at it, check out our preview of another first-round series clash between the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Betting Preview
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
When: Friday, April 22, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Atlanta Hawks (+3) vs. Boston Celtics (-3); total: 200.5– view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN2
Betting on the Atlanta Hawks
For the Hawks, Game 2 was all about the resurgence of Kyle Korver, who shook off a dismal performance in the series opener.
Korver finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists under his belt. He also went 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, and four of those long-range bombs came in the opening period. That output eventually propelled the Hawks towards a 17-point win over Boston.
Now, the Hawks march into Game 3 carrying a 2-0 lead in the series, and another hot-shooting performance from Korver could put them just one victory away from advancing into the next round of the playoffs.
Of course, Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap and Al Horford have played (and will play) an integral part in Atlanta’s offense and defense.
Teague has done a remarkable job in creating opportunities for himself and for his teammates. He’s averaging 18.0 points and 9.0 assists in the first two games. Millsap and Horford, meanwhile, have done their part as well, averaging 29.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 7.0 blocks combined in the same stretch.
Overall, as long as the Teague and co. continue to play at a high level, they should be able to overwhelm the Celtics for the third straight time. Not unless Boston find its offensive rhythm back.
Atlanta is 3-7 SU and 4-6 ATS in its last 10 visits at the TD Garden.
What just happened to Boston? After a valiant effort in the series opener, the Celtics were clobbered by the Hawks in the second game, 89-72.
The opening period pretty much summarized that contest, as the Celtics ended up on the wrong side of history by racking up just seven points (3-of-23 shooting) as a team, the lowest-scoring first quarter in a playoff game since the league added a shot clock in 1954. But to their defense, they were missing two key players in Avery Bradley (hamstring) and Kelly Olynyk (shoulder).
Moving on, the Celtics can’t let that horrendous performance get to them too much. They still have a fighting chance of getting back into the series with the next two games played at the TD Garden.
That said, Isaiah Thomas and co. ought to take advantage of the loud cheers from their home crowd to energize themselves, and (hopefully) take the glory in Game 3. In the regular season, the C’s were one of the best home teams in the Eastern Conference, boasting a solid 28-13 win-loss record.
Thomas, in particular, could attest to this success as he is averaging 22.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists across 41 home games. However, the All-Star point guard has evidently struggled with his stroke in the series thus far. Thomas is shooting just 33.3 percent from the field during the first two games.
If his shooting slump continues though, the C’s desperately need Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart and Evan Turner to answer the call. Those three are going to have to start knocking down some buckets, or else the entire team could be facing an insurmountable situation of being down 0-3.
Boston is 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS in its last 10 games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Boston (-3) gets its first win in the series, 99-93.
