Wow, what a game. Best game of the playoffs so far, in my opinion. If you didn’t watch, I’m sorry. It’s impossible to do a game like that justice in a recap, but I’ll do my best.
From the beginning, the Celtics looked good. The crowd in TD Garden was insane all game long; there was just crazy energy in the building.
Jae Crowder, who had been quiet all series long, knocked down his first two three-pointers. Paul Millsap started out on fire, and didn’t really cool off all game long. Millsap had 11 points and five rebounds after the first quarter. Crowder had eight points and two steals. The Celtics did a nice job of forcing turnovers early: The Hawks committed five before the Celtics gave up their first. The Celtics led 24-21 after one.
The Hawks started the second quarter with two quick turnovers, but quickly took the momentum, going on a 9-0 run to take the 30-26 lead. Paul Millsap continued to be unstoppable. Jonas Jerebko had a great game, but he’s way too small/not enough of a defender to handle Millsap. Millsap had a game high 26 points at the half, to go with eight rebounds and a pair of steals.
The halftime break didn’t cool off Millsap, who started the half with two quick and-1 buckets. Crowder, who had started the game 2-2 from downtown, was 0-5 from that range since. The Hawks went on a 17-0(!!!) run behind awesome play from Millsap. The Celtics managed to close in a bit though. An Isaiah Thomas three cut the lead to 64-56. Towards the end of the quarter, Amir Johnson came up with a big-time block, and Jerebko knocked down a corner three on the other end to cap off an 8-0 run. The Hawks led 73-70 going into the fourth.
Jonas Jerebko knocked down a jumper to start the fourth quarter. Then, an Atlanta turnover led to a Jerebko layup at the other end. Boston now had a 74-70 lead, and was on a 12-0 run. Paul Millsap went back to dominating, though, and Atlanta went on a 10-0 run to go up 80-74.
Then, Marcus Smart happened. He had an insane and-1 finish. Then, he knocked down back to back threes, came up with a nice steal, and threw down a baseline two-handed slam. He scored 11 points in a row for Boston, and was playing phenomenal defense on Paul Millsap, even forcing an airball despite the size difference. Isaiah Thomas banked in a jump shot, and the C’s led 87-84. Millsap scored what would be his last basket; he ended the night with 45 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. Just when it looked like Atlanta was falling apart, Jeff Teague, who had been quiet all game, knocked down back-to-back threes to take a two-point lead. Isaiah Thomas drove and had a nice finish, and the game was tied at 92. The Hawks had an embarrassing final possession that did not get them a basket, and the game went to overtime.
The Celtics had the clear upper hand in OT. Amir Johnson started out with back-to-back baskets down low. Then Teague drilled another three. The teams went back and forth for a bit, but Boston pulled away slowly but surely. Kyle Korver missed an open look, Kent Bazemore made a three at the shot clock buzzer, but didn’t release it in time. Isaiah Thomas hit the dagger: An off-balance three-pointer from the corner with around 30 seconds remaining, and Boston led 102-95l. Teague missed a three, Isaiah Thomas made a couple free throws, and Boston won 104-95.
Excellent play from Smart(20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists), Thomas(28 points, 6 assists), Jerebko(16 points, 10 rebounds), Turner(17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), and Johnson(9 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks) propelled the Celtics to this win. They were scrappy on defense, moved the ball well on offense, and made their shots. It was a close game. If Milksop’s teammates had stepped up to the plate, the Hawks would have had a much better chance at winning the game. Teague came up big in crunch time, but his 13 points marked the highest on the team aside from Millsap. Korver, who score 10, was the only other one in double digits. Horford scored just nine points on 2-8 shooting. This was an incredible game, and I for one cannot wait for game five in Atlanta. Will Boston’s momentum carry over to the road? Will Atlanta bounce back in front of their fans?
