• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Hawks-Celtics Preview

Apr 21, 2016 - 5:37 PM Though short-handed and facing a team that's playing record-setting defense, the Boston Celtics are determined to avoid yet another early deficit.

After posting one of the league's best home records over the past three months, the Celtics look to begin clawing back into the series at home when they try to put a dent in the Atlanta Hawks' two-game advantage Friday night.

Boston needs to break free of the disturbing trend that took place early on in the first two games. It shot 23.1 percent while falling behind by 17 at halftime Saturday before a comeback fell short in a 102-101 series-opening loss.

The Celtics then turned in the lowest-scoring first quarter in a playoff game since the NBA went to a shot clock in 1954, trailing 24-7 on Tuesday. They were 3 of 23 from the field and 0 for 6 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Boston finished the game with a 31.8 field-goal percentage - including 5 of 28 from 3-point range - in an 89-72 loss that was its seventh straight in the playoffs.

"We just have to find a way to get over that hump," forward Amir Johnson said. "I don't know what it's going to take - extra warm-ups for the guys - but the first quarter has definitely hurt us."

Of course, the Hawks have had something to do with that. They've limited the Celtics to 34.2 shooting and 25.4 from behind the arc in the first two games after recording a team playoff-record 15 blocks Tuesday.

"Five guys on the same page covering each other - just good overall team defense," forward Paul Millsap told the team's official website. "I think that's what we've been striving for all year to get to this point."

All-Star center Al Horford has been a difficult matchup for Boston at both ends of the floor, scoring 41 points and hitting four 3s while adding 17 rebounds and seven blocks.

Kyle Korver had two points on 1-of-10 shooting in Game 1, but coach Brad Stevens' worst nightmare materialized Tuesday when Korver scored 17 and went 5 of 7 from 3-point range. The Hawks are 9-3 this season when Korver has at least 15 points.

"We know that we have to be in his airspace or else we're toast," Stevens said.

Stevens' club has gone 19-3 since Jan. 13, the fourth-best mark at home in that span behind San Antonio, Golden State and Toronto. Boston averaged 27.7 points and 46 percent shooting in the first quarter of those contests.

"They're going to come out and give us their best shot, and we know that we have to be ready for that," Korver said.

The Celtics, however, will be without starting guard Avery Bradley and possibly reserve center Kelly Olynyk. Bradley, one of the team's top defenders and second-leading scorer, is out for at least the next two games due to a hamstring injury.

Olynyk is questionable because of a sore right shoulder, though starting guard Marcus Smart is expected to play despite suffering bruised ribs in Game 2. Rookies Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter have been forced into major roles in the backcourt.

''Those guys gotta step up - including myself - and we all just have to put one good game together to give us some confidence," said leading scorer Isaiah Thomas, who had 16 points - more than six below his season average - and shot 4 of 15 on Tuesday.

Atlanta may have to overcome a key injury of its own after backup point guard Dennis Schroder suffered a left ankle injury in the closing minutes of Game 2.

Schroder has struggled in this series with eight points on 3-of-12 shooting.