The Boston Celtics on Friday went to the Eastern Conference playoffs after defeating the Atlanta Hawks 128-120.
In a balanced game, the team managed a shot in the final minutes and defeated the Hawks for the fourth time. It was a reaction, moreover, to the unexpected setback at home in the previous match of the series.
The win also maintained a trend: When Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 30 points, the team only lost one of 24 games.
The visitors started the game at full speed and thus scored 12 of the 14 initial points. That difference even dropped a little, but it kept Boston ahead of the scoreboard for the entire first half.
The situation only changed in the final stretch of the period, because, with the entry of Saddiq Bey, the hosts touched the marker for good. The Celtics had a lead after 12 minutes of play.
The game remained even in the second half and no one opened more than two ball possessions apart.
What disagreed was that, at a certain point, the Hawks took the lead. However, that didn’t last long.
The second place in the East, after all, would take the lead again with baskets followed by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Thus, at the end of the first half, the team was leading by one point (68 to 67).
The numbers of the first half told, in principle, the story of an extremely balanced match.
Both teams made the same number of field goals and free throws. The Celtics had a rebound and a basket more than three points than the opponent.
The Hawks once again took the early second half lead. But it didn’t last long again. Halfway through the third half, the score was tied again.
And this time, the teams exchanged baskets for about four minutes, in which the difference fluctuated between two and zero.
So, it was only fair that the third half ended with two points ahead: 100 to 98 for Atlanta.
The locals followed slightly in front of the scoreboard during the last period. That, by the way, until the decisive four minutes.
Then, the Celtics scored the unlikely: a sequence of three unanswered long-range baskets to shoot the marker.
A rebound and dunk by Tatum would then leave the gap eight points in favour of the visitors. Finally, the classification took shape.
A waste by De’Andre Hunter in the throw-in, however, sealed the result in favour of the visitors. Boston advances in six games.
