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Hawks-Celtics Preview

Apr 23, 2016 - 5:59 PM The Atlanta Hawks left TD Garden on Friday night knowing they have a series on their hands, and they'll likely be spending the hours leading up to Game 4 devising a way to slow down Isaiah Thomas.

That actually might be easier than figuring out how to limit the impact of Jonas Jerebko.

Brad Stevens' move to a smaller lineup opened up the floor and allowed the Celtics to get back into this series, and the onus now falls on Mike Budenholzer to counter Sunday night as Boston tries to even things at two games apiece.

The 5-foot-9 Thomas had a career-high 42 points in Game 3, carrying the Celtics to a 111-103 win after they'd blown a 20-point lead. But on a night when the smallest player on the floor became Boston's ninth to hit 40 in a playoff game, it was two adjustments from Stevens that may provide his team some sustained hope in its attempt to rally from an 0-2 deficit for the second time in franchise history - and first since the 1969 NBA Finals.

Out went Marcus Smart and Jared Sullinger from the starting lineup and in came Evan Turner and Jerebko, both of whom made a difference in a chippy game that featured three flagrant fouls and two technicals. Turner had 17 points, seven assists and five steals, while Jerebko chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds.

His impact went beyond those numbers, though. Jerebko spread the floor and opened up lanes for Thomas, who drove to the basket 22 times - just eight fewer than he did in Games 1 and 2 - and wound up shooting 15 of the Celtics' 33 free throws.

Boston got to the line just 31 times in the first two games.

"He just gives me space to work and I'm glad he got his opportunity tonight and he was the difference maker," Thomas said. "I mean, he spaced the floor for everybody, he is always in the right spots and it makes it tough to guard when you got a shooter like that to stretch the floor and knock down shots and also attack the paint, and he did a hell of a job tonight."

Jerebko only went 1 of 4 from beyond the arc but Boston was 11 for 32 after going 16 for 63 (25.4 percent) in Atlanta. The Celtics were a plus-14 when he was on the floor Friday, and for the series they have a 14.6 net rating in the 74 minutes he's been on the court.

In the 70 he's been on the bench? Try minus-25.1, with Boston producing just 77.5 points per 100 possessions.

"He plays really, really, hard," Stevens said. "He's got versatility with regard to defensively. It's really hard to switch onto (Jeff) Teague and (Dennis) Schroder, but all of our bigs have to do that some as they get going downhill on you. And then his scoring is just a plus. You know, if he scores, he scores; if not, he's still spacing for us."

Budenholzer played center Mike Muscala for just three minutes and even spent six with Teague and Schroder together, a point guard pairing that was ineffective when he occasionally used it in the regular season.

If there's a greater change to be made Sunday, Budenholzer didn't sound too intent on sharing it after Game 3.

"I don't think we defended them well enough," he said. "It seemed like there were a few plays where we could finish better in the paint, take care of the ball better, make better decisions. ... Who was out there, who wasn't I don't think it's quite as impactful as us needing to be better and Isaiah Thomas having a big night."

Teague and Schroder provided 43 points and Kyle Korver hit five 3s and totaled 17 points for the second straight game, but the Hawks are still waiting for Paul Millsap to step up offensively.

Millsap carved up the Celtics with 22.5 points per game during the regular season but has totaled 26 in this series, shooting 4 for 21 in the last two games.

His defensive impact remains. Boston is shooting 34.3 percent with Millsap on the floor and 48.5 percent when he's sitting.