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Trae Younger scored 32 factors in his greatest sport of the playoffs and the Atlanta Hawks gave themselves a glimmer of hope, beating the Boston Celtics 130-122 Friday night time to shut the hole to 2-1 within the opening-round collection.
Younger hit a step-back 3-pointer from the nook with 2:21 left and knocked down one other enormous basket on a floater within the lane with 45 seconds remaining after Jaylen Brown missed a 3-pointer that will’ve tied it for the Celtics.
The seventh-seeded Hawks will attempt to even the collection towards the second-seeded Celtics in Recreation 4 on Sunday night time at State Farm Area.
Jayson Tatum scored 29 factors to guide Boston, which was barely challenged within the first two video games of the collection.
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Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Younger (11) have fun earlier than a win towards the Boston Celtics in the course of the second half of Recreation 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff collection, Friday, April 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Picture/Brynn Anderson)
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Younger was beneath fireplace after making simply 14 of 40 pictures in Beantown. He was a lot better in Recreation 3, connecting on 12 of twenty-two makes an attempt and doling out 9 assists.
Dejounte Murray had one other huge sport for the Hawks, scoring 25 factors, together with a 3-pointer with 1:40 remaining that helped Atlanta defend a puny lead.
Not like the primary two video games in Boston, the place the Celtics pushed out to huge leads and cruised to a pair of 13-point victories, the Hawks lastly put up a battle.
With Derrick White pressured to the bench within the early going with two fast fouls, the Hawks took benefit of a chink within the Boston protection to get issues rolling. Atlanta knocked down 30 of 46 pictures (65.2%) within the first half.
De’Andre Hunter overrated. (AP Picture/Brynn Anderson)
Pumped up by a standing-room-only crowd, the Hawks constructed a 14-point lead — their greatest of the collection — late within the first half.
However the Celtics responded with eight straight factors and went to the locker room down 74-67.
It was Atlanta’ first victory over Boston this season. The Hawks dropped all three regular-season conferences.
TIP-INS
Celtics: White performed solely 9:58 within the first half after being whistled for a pair of fouls earlier than the sport was 5 minutes outdated. … Marcus Sensible landed laborious on his decrease again with about 2 1/2 minutes left, however stayed within the sport, He completed with 24 factors.
Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic took a shot to the face on Malcolm Brogdan’s lay-in early within the fourth quarter. Bogdanovic kneeled over within the ache and was subbed out throughout a timeout. … Basketball Corridor of Famer Dominique Wilkins felt unwell earlier than the sport and didn’t function an analyst on the Hawks regional telecast. Brian Oliver took Wilkins’ normal spot alongside play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Younger (11) shoots towards Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) in the course of the first half of Recreation 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff collection, Friday, April 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Picture/Brynn Anderson)
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LONG ODDS
The Hawks nonetheless face lengthy odds. They’re 0-26 in playoff series over the franchise’s 74-season historical past when shedding the primary two video games.
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