Boston was without guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday on Monday, but White is expected to return to the lineup. Holiday, who has missed five games with an AC joint injury, practiced fully on Wednesday, according to the Globe’s Gary Washburn.
Holiday is listed as questionable. If he does play, it would be the first time since March 7 the Celtics start their projected starting lineup for the playoffs — White, Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis.
Jaden Springer — who played big fourth-quarter minutes on Monday — is out, along with Al Horford. Xavier Tillman is available.
Here’s your preview.
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta
TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Boston -16. O/U: 227.5.
CELTICS
Season record: 57-15. vs. spread: 39-31, 2 pushes. Over/under: 36-36
Last 10 games: 9-1. vs. spread: 8-2. Over/under: 6-4
HAWKS
Season record: 32-39. vs. spread: 25-46. Over/under: 38-32, 1 push
Last 10 games: 5-5. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 5-5
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Boston 121.1, Atlanta 119.2
Points allowed per game: Boston 109.6, Atlanta 120.7
Field goal percentage: Boston .486, Atlanta .465
Opponent field goal percentage: Boston .454, Atlanta .494
3-point percentage: Boston .390, Atlanta .365
Opponent 3-point percentage: Boston .350, Atlanta .383
Stat of the day: The Celtics rank last in the league in blown leads, surrendering only 13.
Notes: Monday’s 30-point comeback was the biggest in Hawks history and the largest comeback in the NBA this season. … Boston leads the season series 2-1, having won the first two games in Boston, 113-103 on Nov. 26 and 125-117 on Feb. 7. … Atlanta (33-39) has won three in a row after its 120-106 win over Portland and remains 10th in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks were unable to pick up ground Wednesday on the ninth-place Chicago Bulls, who won to remain 1 ½ games ahead, but also did not lose ground to the 11th-place Brooklyn Nets, who also won and trail Atlanta by 5 ½ games. … The Hawks continue to ride the offense of Dejounte Murray. He scored 30 points against the Blazers on Wednesday and has put up 28-plus in three of his past four games. … Atlanta, playing without three starters and a key reserve, is getting contributions from different backups each night. Vit Krejci matched his career high with 16 points vs. Boston. … Boston (57-15) has clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, owns the best road record in the league (25-12), has the best offensive rating in the NBA (122.5) and ranks second in defensive rating (110.7). … Last season, the Celtics became the third team in NBA history to finish in the top three in both offensive and defensive rating. … The Hawks announced Wednesday that All-Star Trae Young has made a positive recovery in his recovery from surgery to repair a ligament in the little finger of his left hand. Young has missed 16 games since being hurt in the Feb. 23 game against Toronto. The team has not provided a timetable for his return to play. … The Atlanta lineup also remains without Jalen Johnson (right ankle sprain), Saddiq Bey (torn left ACL) and key reserve Onyeka Okongwu (sprained left toe).
Eli Cloutier can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @iamelicloutier.
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