Game 1, Half 1: Hawks make 36.6 percent of their shots to Boston’s 50 percent, get outrebounded 24-21 and are outscored 67-51.
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Bradley’s absence puts a strain on a Boston defense already tasked with trying to slow down a speedy point guard tandem in Teague and Dennis Schroder.
The Atlanta Hawks were melting down, their 19-point lead over the Boston Celtics long gone. Between film sessions Thursday, Hawks president and coach Mike Budenholzer acknowledged the impending decisions but understandably downplayed them, given the timing. Then, with 3:31 remaining and the game tied at 88, Teague grabbed a defensive rebound, sprinted the length of the court before shoveling a pass to center Al Horford for a bucket.
Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver sinks a three against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals. “I said it [Saturday]: Those were the shots that were the most available and most open. But I’m going to have more time to make more effort plays and intensity plays and help my team win”.
Boston coach Brad Stevens said Bradley told him he heard something pop.
Avery Bradley’s hamstring injury will likely keep him sidelined the rest of the Celtics’ first-round series with the Hawks. However, Teague returned to playoff form by scoring 23 points and dishing 12 assists.
For the season, Bradley was averaging 15.2 points per game, and as we saw on Saturday, was capable of putting this team on his back when they needed him. He came down and began to race up court when he suddenly pulled up lame. He finished with just two points in Game 1 after shooting 1 of 10 from the field, including 0 of 7 from 3-point range. We know it’s big for us.
“When I came down, I felt weird”, Bradley said Saturday after the game.
The Atlanta Hawks survived a second-half scare by the Boston Celtics to win 102-101 and take game one in the first round of the playoffs Saturday at Philips Arena.
But Thomas and the Celtics turned the tide in the third quarter.
Smart could be the man who responds, having hit seven 3-pointers in his past two games in Atlanta.
“We’ve had [injuries] with significant people on our team enough that we at least have an idea of how we’ll proceed forward”, Stevens said. “We can’t let up for a second”. Avery Bradley had 18 points, while Isaiah Thomas had 27 and eight assists.
No one appreciates these playoffs more than Sefolosha.
Bradley’s injury was not all the Celtics have to be concerned about.
“Hopefully [Bradley is] all right”, Turner said. “I would call it a lot more responsibility. This is a great chance”.
“They didn’t drop for us the last game”. First, Marcus Smart was spring free at the top of the key for a three-pointer. They went on a 49-29 run into the fourth quarter to take the three-point advantage.
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For both the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics, the National Basketball Association playoffs feel a lot different than they did a year ago. Atlanta G Tim Hardaway was considered a game-time decision for Game 1 after suffering a strained hamstring in Wednesday’s loss to Washington. After going through warmups with no problems, he suited up but went scoreless in 8 1-2 minutes.
