After blowing opportunities (in the past) to beat a stuggling opponent and increase the lead for the Eastern Conference's eigth playoff seed, the Hawks did not let up against the Celtics and won 105-97 in Atlanta.
"We easily could've hung our heads there, but we kept fighting, got some good looks and we knocked them down," said Hawks three-point specialist Kyle Korver. "The momentum switched our way, and we could just feel it. The game turned really quickly."
Every starting, including one reserve (Mike Scott), scored in double figures. Point guard Jeff Teague led the charge with 19 points, behind him were shooting guard Kyle Korver (14), power fowards Paul Millsap (14) and Elton Brand (13) and small forward DeMarre Carroll (13).
If there was a lowpoint in the game for the Hawks, it would have been the third quarter when they only put up 14 points. The Celtics trailed 51-56 at the start of the second half, but after the poor showing by the Hawks in the third period, the Celtics then led 77-70.
"In the second half we had a big lead and we let them back in it," Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo said. "We have to get stops, and I start with myself and turning the ball over. They turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter and took us out of our offense."
In the last few minutes of the game, the Celtics were leading by nine points. The Hawks then started an impressive 19-3 rally.
"Our defense was what really fueled it," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We picked up our pressure and our effort. We some turnovers and some steals that led to transition baskets, especially a couple of those transition 3s for Kyle."
[Box Score]
Starters:
Elton Brand, PF (13 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK)
Paul Millsap, PF (14 PTS, 14 RED, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK)
DeMarre Carroll, SF (13 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST)
Jeff Teague, PG (19 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK)
Kyle Korver, SG (17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK)
Bench:
Mike Scott, PF (13 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK)
Mike Muscala, C (1 REB)
Shelvin Mack, PG (5 PTS, 5 AST)
Louis Williams, SG (9 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST)
Did Not Play:
Pero Antic, C
Dennis Schroder, PG
Cartier Martin, SF
"We easily could've hung our heads there, but we kept fighting, got some good looks and we knocked them down," said Hawks three-point specialist Kyle Korver. "The momentum switched our way, and we could just feel it. The game turned really quickly."
Every starting, including one reserve (Mike Scott), scored in double figures. Point guard Jeff Teague led the charge with 19 points, behind him were shooting guard Kyle Korver (14), power fowards Paul Millsap (14) and Elton Brand (13) and small forward DeMarre Carroll (13).
If there was a lowpoint in the game for the Hawks, it would have been the third quarter when they only put up 14 points. The Celtics trailed 51-56 at the start of the second half, but after the poor showing by the Hawks in the third period, the Celtics then led 77-70.
"In the second half we had a big lead and we let them back in it," Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo said. "We have to get stops, and I start with myself and turning the ball over. They turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter and took us out of our offense."
In the last few minutes of the game, the Celtics were leading by nine points. The Hawks then started an impressive 19-3 rally.
"Our defense was what really fueled it," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We picked up our pressure and our effort. We some turnovers and some steals that led to transition baskets, especially a couple of those transition 3s for Kyle."
[Box Score]
Starters:
Elton Brand, PF (13 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK)
Paul Millsap, PF (14 PTS, 14 RED, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK)
DeMarre Carroll, SF (13 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST)
Jeff Teague, PG (19 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK)
Kyle Korver, SG (17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK)
Bench:
Mike Scott, PF (13 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK)
Mike Muscala, C (1 REB)
Shelvin Mack, PG (5 PTS, 5 AST)
Louis Williams, SG (9 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST)
Did Not Play:
Pero Antic, C
Dennis Schroder, PG
Cartier Martin, SF