The Atlanta Hawks were able to keep themselves alive in the series in Game 3.They came out 8-point winners and will be looking to tie the series in Game 4. The visitors have the second best home record in the Eastern Conference and will be keen to win tonight to set up Game 5 as a potential elimination game. Be sure to catch tonight’s game on TNT.
Take a look at all of our'NBA Playoff predictions. But for now we'll jump right into my Celtics vs Hawks SGP.
Dejounte Murray has had a very consistent start to the series so far, averaging 26 points per game. His lowest point total through the 3 games so far was 24 points in Game 1. In each game since he has hit this line and managed to improve his field goal percentage in the game. He made 52.4% of his shots the last time out and if he maintains that trend, he would be well positioned to score at least 25 points once again. Murray has been a go-to player for the Hawks offense, leading the team in field goal attempts twice, coming just one shy in the other game. With Marcus Smart continuing to focus in on Trae Young, expect a similar level of aggressiveness from him here.
Marcus Smart is listed as questionable tonight, but if he does take to the floor, I expect him to be his usual self defensively. In each of the first 3 games of the series he has been able to record 3 steals. To have him record just 2 for this parlay seems to be a good buffer to have. Trae Young continues to be turnover prone, managing 14 through the games so far. Smart remains in a great position to pick some of these off. The Hawks averaged 12.9 turnovers per game in the regular season but have struggled against this Celtics defence so far. They have managed 15 or more in 2 of the 3 games. Smart should be one of the players reaping the rewards of this.