The Boston Celtics have a big axe to grind against the Atlanta Hawks, who embarrassed the Eastern Conference-leading squad in a stunning victory last Tuesday. Will the Celtics get their revenge? Or, will the Hawks nail Boston anew on Good Friday?
Catch this game live on Friday, March 29, 2024 at 7:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Boston Celtics (57-15, 25-12 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jrue Holiday (Questionable)
- Derrick White
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Kristaps Porzingis
The Celtics learned a tough lesson last Tuesday about the perils of relaxing even with a seemingly insurmountable lead. Despite establishing a 30-point lead in the first half, the Celtics still ended up losing to Atlanta on the road, 120-118. That loss ended Boston’s nine-game win streak. The good news for the Celtics is that they will have a chance to avenge that loss right away, with one more game in Atlanta this Friday.
Also, Boston almost always recovers after suffering a defeat. In fact, the Celtics are 12-2 straight up so far in the 2023-24 NBA regular season in games played following a setback. At the very least, the Celtics will have the appetite to win this game even though they are already assured of a spot in the playoffs and own a huge lead atop the Eastern Conference standings.
The Celtics, who are averaging 121.1 points per game and leads the NBA with a +11.5 average scoring margin, are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven outings on the road.
Home: Atlanta Hawks (33-39,19-17 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Dejounte Murray
- Vit Krejci
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- De’Andre Hunter
- Clint Capela
Atlanta is out to prove that its win over the Celtics earlier this week was no fluke. After pulling off the staggering come-from-behind win against Boston, the Hawks rode their momentum in scoring a 120-106 home win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. That means Friday’s game versus the Celtics is the second leg of a back-to-back, though, Atlanta will still be playing at home. Plus, the Hawks have covered the spread in six of their last seven games in Atlanta.
With Trae Young still out, the Hawks will continue to lean on Dejounte Murray, who had 19 points in the Celtics game and 34 in the win over the Trail Blazers. Murray has averaged 25.7 points on 55.4 percent shooting from the field in the last three Hawks games. As a team, Atlanta has put up 124.0 points on 53.4 FG% and a scorching 45.4 3FG% over that same stretch. Four Hawks players have each averaged at least 2.7 3-pointers on 44.4 3FG% or better in the same span.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Celtics (-17.5) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (227.0) hit the Under.
