Series Recap and Pregame Analysis: Celtics vs Hawks
The TD Garden crowd witnessed a Boston Celtics team let them down on Tuesday in Game 5. Trae Young sunk a 30-foot 3-pointer to win the game and shift the series back to State Farm Arena for Game 6. With the Hawks’ shocking victory, this series brings Celtics and Hawks fans back to 2008 when Zaza Pachulia announced, “We’re going to Game 7,” after an impressive Atlanta home win in Game 6 against the eventual champion Celtics of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Boston’s coach in 2008 was Doc Rivers, and he is the coach who awaits the Celtics if the green advance past the first round to play the 76ers. The Celtics and Hawks will play Game 6 on Thursday, April 27 at 8:30 pm Eastern.
With the series on the line, Trae Young:
❄️ Dropped 38 PTS, 13 AST, 5 3PM
❄️ Scored 14 straight in Q4
❄️ Hit the DEEP game-winner with 1.8 on the clockThat’s cold. pic.twitter.com/kt1jIqmQ8i
— NBA (@NBA) April 26, 2023
With Game 6, we can expect Jayson Tatum to bounce back, but more importantly, Dejounte Murray will return from his one-game suspension. The Murray-less Hawks impressed in Boston, so can they can keep the momentum going or will the zig-zag theory be in effect yet again? Since Game 2, the teams have alternated victories. Jaylen Brown played very well in Game 5, but the Celtics could not let him cook late in the game, and credit has to go to the Hawks for limiting Boston’s offense. So, can Atlanta duplicate its performance in Game 6?
All lines and odds courtesy of BetMGM
Betting Info for Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks
Moneyline: Boston Celtics ( -225)
Atlanta Hawks (+195)
Spread: Boston Celtics -5.5 (-115)
Atlanta Hawks +5.5 (-105)
Total: Over 232.5 (-110)
Under 323.5 (-110)
Picks and Predictions for the Celtics vs Hawks
Celtics Moneyline (-225)
The Celtics are a much better team than the Hawks, and Boston’s best performance would blow away Atlanta. Boston missed free throws and missed many scoring opportunities near the end of Game 5. The Celtics should bounce back with their 3-point shooting while the Hawks’ 3-point shooting should fall back to earth.
After the Hawks ended Boston’s nine-game winning streak at home, it will be the Hawks’ backs against the wall again in Game 6. Atlanta has advanced past the first round just once since 2017 while Boston has won a playoff series in five of the last six postseasons. However, Boston may be at a coaching disadvantage. It is rookie coach Joe Mazzulla who was a coach of the year finalist but may not be coaching the best basketball out there.
Even though Tatum and Mazzulla had a difficult game in Game 5, the Celtics should bounce back in Game 6. Although there is not too much value, take the Celtics moneyline as that is the safest position for this contest.
Final Game Prediction, Celtics vs. Hawks
Boston Wins by Single Digits
