It’s difficult to win a game when you score seven points in a quarter – yes, seven points in a quarter. The Celtics found that out Tuesday and fell in a 0-2 hole in the series. Atlanta is a good defensive team, but come on. With the teams heading to Boston, look for a different Celtics team in Game 3.
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LETDOWN
The hits keep on coming for the Celtics. Already down starting guard Avery Bradley for the series with a hamstring injury, the C’s went without key rotation player Kelly Olynyk in Game 2 after he aggravated a shoulder injury in Game 1. And the Hawks took advantage of the depleted Celtics, boy did they ever. Atlanta roared out of the gates on Tuesday, taking the fight right to Boston by racing out to a 24-3 lead with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter. And that was pretty much the ballgame. Atlanta never trailed and Boston never got the lead under 10 points the rest of the way.
The Hawks held serve at home and for the first time in the long history of this postseason rivalry – one that includes 12 playoff matchups – Atlanta holds a 2-0 lead over the guys in green. It’s the 10th 2-0 lead overall in Hawks playoff history; they’ve never lost a series in which they’ve taken the first two games. But the Hawks are well aware that things can turn in a hurry and the Celtics’ rich history won’t allow them to roll over.
INJURIES
Hawks backup point guard Dennis Schroeder left Tuesday’s game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. A postgame MRI came back negative, so it appears he avoided anything serious. Schroeder is considered day-to-day.
Bradley is likely out for the series after hearing a “pop” in his hamstring during the Game 1 loss. Olynyk aggravated his lingering shoulder injury and didn’t play Tuesday. His status moving forward is unknown at this time. And Marcus Smart, who started in place of Bradley, took a shot to the ribs and had some discomfort. He will be reevaluated in Boston ahead of Game 3 but doesn’t appear overly concerned that the injury will force him to miss any games.
KEY MATCHUP
With Boston’s best perimeter defender on the shelf, Kyle Korver took over in Game 2, snapping out of his own recent shooting slump. Korver came out firing on Tuesday night and this time he couldn’t miss. Shaking off a dismal performance in the series opener, Korver swished four three-pointers in the opening minutes to propel Atlanta to a stunning 21-point lead not even halfway through the opening 12 minutes.
Korver entered the game having made only three of his last 19 three-point attempts, including an 0 for 7 performance in Game 1. “I wanted to come out and play better the second game,” Korver said. And he certainly did that. Korver hit 5 of 7 three-pointers overall and was 6 of 9 from the field for a game-high tying 17 points. Over his career Korver has made 42.9 percent of his threes and led the NBA last season by sinking nearly half of his shots from distance. The outburst isn’t unusual and we could expect more with Bradley not on the floor to defend.
QUICK PICK
Given the Celtics’ injury concerns and their inability to score the basketball in Tuesday’s Game 2 loss, it would be easy to throw in the towel. But Boston has some time to work out the kinks ahead of Game 3. Besides, it’s not like there was a big discrepancy between these teams during the regular season. They did, after all, finish with identical records. So don’t pencil the Hawks into the next round just yet.
Atlanta was able to build a big lead on Tuesday and the Hawks didn’t let the Celtics back into the game, unlike Game 1 when they blew a 19-point lead. Boston is hurting, there’s no doubt about that. But they’ve been able to overcome adverse circumstances all season and they are facing another one head on. This time the Celtics are able to respond on their home floor.
NBA Odds: Boston 101, Atlanta 98
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