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Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined to ensure the Celtics were able to pull away from the Hawks, and win the series. They advance to face the third-seeded 76ers, who have been resting since completing their four-game sweep of Brooklyn last Saturday.

 

Jayson Tatum

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Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics 128 – 120 Atlanta Hawks (Celtics win series 4-2) View post

 

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28 Apr

06:15

Boston Celtics 128 – 120 Atlanta Hawks (Celtics win series 4-2)

After letting the series go longer than it should have, Al Horford and the Boston Celtics were eager to finish off the Atlanta Hawks.

 

Horford made sure his former team did not force a Game 7.

 

The 36-year-old Horford hit a huge three-pointer in a late run that carried the Celtics past the Hawks 128-120 Thursday night for a 4-2 triumph in the opening-round playoff series.

 

 

He was aided hugely by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who both came up with the numbers that mattered. Brown led the Celtics with 32 points, while Tatum had 30.

 

 

Marcus Smart also came up big for Boston, scoring 22 points and brilliantly running the offense down the stretch, including a drive and dish that set up Horford’s shot.

 

After squandering a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 5, which cost them a chance to end the series in Boston, the Celtics were determined not to wilt again.

 

Down by three, Boston ripped off an 11-0 run that included three straight three-pointers, with Horford’s big shot sandwiched around threes from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

 

Tatum capped the spurt with a dunk off a Horford miss, giving the Celtics a 121-113 lead with 2:07 remaining.

 

Given how close it had been all night, an eight-point lead seemed like 80 in a game that featured 22 lead changes and 15 ties.

 

For the Hawks, it will not be entirely forgettable, especially where Trae Young is concerned.

 

After carrying the Hawks to that improbable victory at TD Garden, Young ran out of steam in the second half. He missed 12 of 13 shots over the final two quarters.

Jayson Tatum

Young had 30 points and 10 ists, but he finished just 9 of 28 from the field.

 

The second-seeded Celtics now advance to face the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, who have been resting since completing their four-g

ame sweep of Brooklyn last Saturday.