The Atlanta Hawks needed a big win after losses in games 3 and 4, and after a cold start to game 5, they absolutely started to pour it on. Up until about the 5 minute mark of the second quarter, they had a shooting percentage of 18%, and the Celtics took advantage of this and went up 29-19. After a timeout, the Hawks were able to regroup. They went on a 13-2 run, taking a 32-31 point lead with 3 and a half minutes left in the first half. The run would continue, and with the help of three Kent Bazemore threes in four possessions, the Hawks went on a 26-6 run to take a 45-35 point lead. Atlanta made 11 straight shots before Jeff Teague missed a potential buzzer-beater at the end of the quarter, and entered halftime with a 47-39 point lead. The Hawks outscored the Celtics 32-19 during the second quarter. Mike Scott and Bazemore led the Hawks in the first half, scoring 9 and 14 points respectively. Atlanta also did a great job of containing Isaiah Thomas, as they held him to zero points in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Hawks continued to role. They have seen the Celtics ability to make a comeback this series already, and they weren’t about to let that happen again. Atlanta poured it on in the third quarter, and they continued to make shot after shot and play outstanding defense. Near the end of the quarter, they went on a 29-7 run that gave them a huge 27 point lead going into the fourth quarter. Atlanta outscored the Celtics 42-23 in the third period.
The Celtics lead the NBA in fourth quarter points during the playoffs, so it was crucial for Atlanta to make sure that the Celtics wouldn’t come back. Well, they did that and quickly went up by 30 points. At about the 10 minute mark, it looked as if Isaiah Thomas may have got hurt on a drive and fouled to take himself out. He ran quickly to the locker room. Hopefully, he is not hurt too badly. Isaiah has been the Celtics top player this series, and if he is out, the Celtics will have a tough time defeating the Hawks. At the end of the game, the Hawks won by a large margin of 110-83.
The Hawks played an outstanding game tonight. After starting the game off poorly, they picked up their play very quickly and started making shot after shot. The offense was red hot tonight, and the team looked to be just as successful as they were during their magical run last January. Their offense was unstoppable, and their defense was just as good. After starting out shooting 18%, the whole team started to score basket after basket and broke out on two huge runs. On the defensive side of the ball, they were just as good. They were harassing the Celtics, forcing a bunch of turnovers, and they did a great job containing Isaiah Thomas who scored 7 points on 3 for 12 shooting.
Atlanta saw huge games from multiple players, but in true Atlanta fashion, nobody scored more than 20 points. Jeff Teague played a great game where he was attacking the basket, and he was able to score 16 points. Bazemore also had a great game shooting. He scored 16 points as well, and he also hit 4 threes. The Hawks’ top player tonight was easily Mike Scott who scored 17 points on 7 for 9 shooting, including 2 for 3 from three in 22 minutes of action off of the bench.
Atlanta ran away with game 5, and with all the momentum on their side, they will look to take the series on Thursday in Boston. Brad Stephens and the Celtics have a lot of adjustments to make before then, but if the Hawks are as red hot on Thursday as they were tonight, they will definitely be able to defeat the Celtics for the first time since the organization moved from St. Louis to Atlanta.
