With 6:27 remaining in simply the second quarter of Game 1 of the playoffs, Al Horford couldn’t cover his feelings.
The Celtics had been up 22, and the Hawks earned second and probability alternatives. But Horford wouldn’t enable there to be a fourth. The large man corralled a rebound over Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu, drew a foul after which continued dribbling down the courtroom. He took two dribbles earlier than taking a number of skips, clenching his proper fist and letting out a number of screams earlier than slapping the ball.
It was a uncommon show of emotion for Horford, the 36-year-old regular, mild-mannered veteran who picks his spots to take action. Even although it was solely Game 1 of the primary spherical, it was the sturdy opening assertion he and the Celtics had been searching for as they restart their pursuit of a championship that they got here so near claiming a yr in the past.
Horford’s expressions fired up the TD Garden crowd, Jayson Tatum raised his arms to get them louder and the Celtics had been on their approach to delivering a convincing first punch. Jaylen Brown scored 29 factors, Tatum had 25 and Derrick White added 24. Robert Williams had certainly one of his greatest video games of the season, which bodes nicely for Boston’s championship outlook. The Celtics dominated the primary half and let off the fuel within the second however finally made simple work of the Hawks with a 112-99 victory.
Game 2 is Tuesday night time at TD Garden.
The Celtics had been ready for this second for weeks. Tatum, earlier within the week, admitted there was some boredom because the postseason and one other crack at a championship loomed. It confirmed with certainly one of their most dominant first-half efforts of the season, which gave them loads of cushion for an inevitable coast.
Tatum, Brown and Co. tore aside the Hawks’ inside protection to get something they needed, and defensively, they had been sharp and barely examined. Trae Young was restricted to only 16 factors on 5-for-18 capturing, consultant of a tough offensive day for the Hawks, who had only one 3-point make at halftime and completed the day 5-for-28 from downtown.
The Celtics led by 30 after scoring 74 first-half factors and it regarded like they’d run away in a blowout however their execution waned within the second half. The Hawks trimmed the Celtics’ result in 12 with 9:33 to go within the fourth quarter when Joe Mazzulla known as timeout. The C’s responded with a 6-0 run – which included 4 factors from Brown – to revive their commanding benefit. Dejounte Murray’s layup made it a 12-point sport with 3:16 remaining, however Horford answered with a 3-pointer and the C’s did sufficient down the stretch.
Source: www.bostonherald.com