The Celtics shot 23 percent from the field in the first half of Game 1 before overcoming a 19-point deficit and falling just short 102-101.
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Playing by far its best first half of the series, Boston led by as many as 20 points before seeing that mostly erased by a 12-0 run by the Hawks in the third quarter. In this game, they fell behind by 11 points in the first quarter itself and never looked like a threat.
The series shifts to Boston on Friday with the Hawks leading 2-0. Turner had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, with one block, while Rozier finished with 10 points, four rebounds and one block.
“If I was them, I would pack the paint, too”, Isaiah Thomas said after finishing the game 4-for-15 overall, including 1-for-6 from 3-point range.
Kyle Korver bounced back after struggling in game one tying a team-high 17 points with hitting 5-for-7 outside the arc.
Budenholzer said Schroder’s ankle did not have any swelling after the plane ride to Boston.
The Hawks held the Celtics to the lowest-scoring first quarter in the playoffs since the National Basketball Association went to the shot clock, building a 21-point lead and holding on despite an ugly shooting performance of their own for an 89-72 victory and a strong hold on their Eastern Conference series. Two straight playoff starts and two ruggedly bad starts for Boston. The two Boston role players will likely miss Game 3 but even if they do suit up, they won’t be fully healthy.
Thomas is far from the only reason that the Celtics have struggled in the playoffs, though, as they are shooting 34 percent from the field and 25 percent from three as a team, but he is their star and is expected to carry them at points. “This year (the Hawks were a No. 4 seed), we really had to work to get to this point and we’re just taking advantage of our opportunities”.
Of course, the Hawks have had something to do with that. “The way we’re playing, they can’t just lock in on me”.
“I think (Stevens) will make some type of change, knowing Brad”, Thomas said on the conference call. The Hawks are 9-3 this season when Korver has at least 15 points.
Stevens’ club has gone 19-3 since January 13, the fourth-best mark at home in that span behind San Antonio, Golden State and Toronto.
The Celtics’ front court is decidedly weak, which underscores the fact that this is a brutal matchup for Boston, but the C’s need quality minutes from guys like Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller if they’re going to get back in this series. “You have to figure out, especially after a game like (Tuesday) night what didn’t go well, what we felt like didn’t go well but maybe once you watch the film it really went a little bit better than you thought, and kinda get ready for the next game”.
The Celtics, however, will be without starting guard Avery Bradley and possibly reserve center Kelly Olynyk. Point guard Avery Bradley is out indefinitely with a right hamstring strain that occurred in Game 1.
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If Game 5 is necessary in the Atlanta-Boston series but not necessary in the Cleveland-Detroit and San Antonio-Memphis series, the Pacers would play at 6 p.m. on TNT.
