There was a special flavor at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta when they hosted Boston for Game 3.
With their backs to the wall after losing the first two games, Quin Snyder’s men had the daunting task of rocking the Celtics and got their way, between event-worthy performances from Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, but also “role players” who fully played the “X factors”, such as Saddiq Bey and Bogdan Bogdanvovic (15 points each).
It took a big quarter before seeing the locals take control of the game, the fault of a rain of 3-pointers from the Celtics in the first quarter, at 9/16 in the exercise! Despite this, Atlanta was only pointing to -4 after 12 minutes (33-37).
Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic then helped to rebalance the debates by sanctioning the C’s behind the arc to allow the Hawks to move to +6 (59-53). The locals are not stopped in such a good way, sticking a total of 20-3 to reverse the course of the game and lead 70-56 after a new missile from Bogdanovic, two baskets from Dejounte Murray and a tap from Clint Capela (70 -56).
Malcolm Brogdon and Jayson Tatum saved the day before halftime, but the dynamic had clearly changed sides (74-67).
As expected, Boston did what was necessary to put the pressure on the Hawks. By equalizing at 79-79 after an 8-0 concluded by Derrick White’s 3-pointer then Jaylen Brown’s dunk, then by aligning an 11-0 between the end of the third and the start of the fourth quarter (100- 99).
At the heart of the storm, Saddiq Bey offered a breath of fresh air to his people on a 3-pointer following an offensive rebound from Onyeka Okongwu, the kind of action that tells you that you are in for a good night. It was then Trae Young who relieved the assembly with three baskets and an assist for the lay-up of De’Andre Hunter (113-106).
Dejounte Murray brought his stone to the building with two shots that hit home, forcing Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart to the feat to keep the C’s alive (118-116). But the Young-Murray tandem did not crack, with a 3-point each and a final floater from Trae Young against an overwhelmed Derrick White (126-121). In throws, the leader of the Hawks was then able to ensure the precious success of Atlanta, 130-122. It promises for Game 4!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Hawks first half. In a charged atmosphere, the Hawks managed to take the meeting by the good end and display their intentions of entry. The Celtics’ 3-point fest didn’t shake their plan, and the hosts finished the first half with 74 points. This is the record for points conceded by Boston in a first half this season and it is quite simply the record in the history of the Hawks in the playoffs in a half. How to display the color!
– Trae Young’s end game. As soon as the match ended on the microphone, he insisted that the whole team was to be congratulated. A demonstration of humility, while his fourth quarter was remarkable, he who was expected at the turn after having watered on the first two games. This time, he was incredibly accurate in guiding his team to victory.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Trae Young. The Celtics couldn’t find a way to stop him in the final act. The leader did what he wanted by scoring 15 of his 32 points to launch his campaign in the playoffs.
✅ Dejounte Murray. The perfect counterpart to Trae Young who played with the same accuracy and also put in important shots at the end.
✅ The Bogdanovic-Bey duo. Dejounte Murray and Trae Young can’t do it all and Bogdanovic and Bey’s contribution was therefore invaluable at various times in the game, with the two players barely missing anything in attack.
⛔ The Celtics racket. In a game that ended up being a close match as Boston had the ball to equalize 58 seconds from time, the Celtics may regret their lack of commitment in defending their racquet. Atlanta thus dominated the fight on the rebound with only 29 catches for the Celtics against 48 for the Hawks! Same thing in terms of defensive aggressiveness with zero against, where Onyeka Okongwu’s teammates counted six. The 3-points are not enough, especially in the playoffs, where you also have to know how to get your hands dirty.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 4 in Atlanta on the night of Sunday to Monday (01:00).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
