That must was assured after they clinched the third or fourth seed in the Eastern Conference despite a loss to the Cavaliers on Monday. A Hawks victory coupled with a Heat loss would give the Hawks the 3rd seed and the division crown.
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In tonight’s other key Eastern Conference match-up, the Charlotte Hornets (currently the East’s sixth seed) travel to Boston to face a Celtics team they’d like to catch in the standings.
Avery Bradley is glad the Celtics are playing the Hawks.
Point guard Isaiah Thomas also helped out big, scoring 16 points along with nine assists.
When asked about their collapse in the second half, Celtics Head Coach Brad Stevens said, “We ran out of shots quicker than they did”.
Ainge admitted that he had some doubts around halftime of the game against Miami, but he was pleased to see the team that came out of the locker room in the second half. It got everyone smiling on the bench. “That’s what it’s all about – us going out there and playing Celtic basketball”. “I was just paying attention to us”.
“I told Danny (Ainge), ‘Man, why didn’t you say something during the game?”
“The environment inside Philips Arena has been electric all season, but we’re taking it up a level for Game 1”, said Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club CEO Steve Koonin. It was Dwyane Wade who started a comeback for the Heat, and Dragic who continued it. Though the move to small ball eliminated Miami’s rim protection.
Boston swept a regular-season series from Miami for the first time since 2009-10.
The Atlanta Hawks are peaking at the right time as the playoffs are set to begin, however can their recent success be translated?
“Everything works in mysterious ways”, Wade said. “We are ready to get back on the court and play”.
The Celtics went on a 20-0 run to cut the lead to 65-61 before Johnson’s jumper with 3:34 left in the quarter ended the streak and put Miami ahead 67-61 when the Celtics called timeout. Who they play in the first round is still to be determined between the Heat, Celtics and Hornets. The Miami Heat are averaging 100.2 points on 47.1 percent shooting and allowing 98.5 points on 44.2 percent shooting.
Players from both sides poured onto the floor, but no punches were thrown and Smart and Dragic were assessed technical fouls. The Heat then took a 62-38 lead into the intermission, with just two turnovers in the first half, as well a 29-18 rebounding edge over those two periods, with 18 second-chance points over the first 24 minutes.
Both teams are fighting for home court in the first round. “And not only that, we know how we need to play every single night to win games”.
– Justise Winslow was back, and active, after sitting out Tuesday due to a sprained ankle.
In February, Celtics overpowered Heat 101-89 at TD Garden where they had a huge 20 turnovers.
“You have to give a great deal of credit to Boston”, Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said.
“Kobe, goodbye, I think I might retire with you, I’m not sure”, said Nicholson.
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Even with him having to deal with that he is still one of the best shooting guards this season and top 3 best shooting guards to ever play this game.
