After the Hawks pulled off an upset win over the Heat in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament, they've earned a first-round date with the No. 2 seed Celtics.
In the Play-In, Atlanta obliterated Miami on the glass, out-rebounding the Heat 63-39 (with a 22-6 differential on the offensive boards). Clint Capela finished with 21 rebounds while Trae Young had his usual fireworks, going off for 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Now, the Hawks find themselves in a first-round matchup with a Boston team they have yet to beat this season. The two franchises haven't met in the NBA Playoffs since 2016 when Al Horford was a part of the Hawks team that sent the Celtics home in the first round.
Will the Hawks be able to maintain their momentum and pull off another upset? Or will the Celtics show they mean business on a revenge tour to get back to the NBA Finals?
The Sporting News has you covered with a series breakdown below.
Celtics vs. Hawks betting odds
Celtics, to win series: -1000
Hawks, to win series: +650
Odds are provided by DraftKings.
Celtics vs. Hawks schedule, TV channels
| Date | Game | Location | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Saturday, April 15 | Game 1 | Boston | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 18 | Game 2 | Boston | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Friday, April 21 | Game 3 | Atlanta | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 23 | Game 4 | Atlanta | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Tuesday, April 25 | Game 5* | Boston | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 27 | Game 6* | Atlanta | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, April 29 | Game 7* | Boston | TBD | TNT |
*If necessary.
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Celtics vs. Hawks 2022-23 regular season series
Boston swept the season series with Atlanta, taking all three games.
- Nov. 16, 2022: Celtics 126, Hawks 101
- March 11, 2023: Celtics 134, Hawks 125
- April 9, 2023: Celtics 120, Hawks 114
The Hawks had their complete starting lineup for each of their first two matchups against the Celtics this season — both of which resulted in losses for Atlanta. Boston, on the other hand, was missing Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon in its first meeting with the Hawks and Robert Williams III in each of its first two meetings.
The third and final matchup between these teams should be taken with a grain of salt as it came on the final day of the regular season when the majority of regular rotation players were out of the lineup on both sides.
Young put up big numbers in both matchups — going for 27 points and nine assists in the first game and 35 points and 13 assists in the second — but he didn't get much help elsewhere. Boston did a great job containing his wingman, Dejounte Murray, holding the star guard under his season scoring average (20.5 PPG) in both games.
Boston's bench made the difference in the first game, outscoring Atlanta's reserves 44-23. In the second game, the Jays took over, with Jayson Tatum (34) and Jaylen Brown (24) combining for 58 points to edge the Hawks.
Celtics vs. Hawks key storyline: Can Atlanta contain Boston's 3-point shooting?
When you look at the two matchups between these teams when key rotation players were in the lineup, one thing immediately stands out — the Celtics shot the lights out from 3 against the Hawks.
In the first game, Boston outscored Atlanta 63-21 from 3-point range, knocking down 21-of-46 attempts (45.7%) while dishing out 29 assists as a team. In the second game, the Celtics outscored the Hawks 60-30 from beyond the arc, converting 20-of-42 attempts (47.6%) while racking up 35 assists.
This isn't uncommon, as Boston was one of the most unselfish and best 3-point shooting teams all season, ranking seventh in assists (26.7) and second in 3-pointers made (16.0) per game while placing sixth in 3-point efficiency (37.7%).
However, its numbers against Atlanta — averages of 32.0 assists and 20.5 3s made on 46.6 percent shooting over the two games with regular rotation players available — are all well above its season-long marks.
So how have the Celtics freed up so many good looks from 3-point range against the Hawks? By forcing Atlanta's bigs to defend on the perimeter.
Boston would frequently pull Clint Capela, John Collins or Onyeka Okongwu's assignments into on-ball actions in pick-and-pop scenarios. Because the Celtics often have multiple ball handlers and shooters on the floor, they were able to rely on a variety of playmakers to make the right reads or extra passes.
Other times, players like Horford would just sit on the 3-point line to space the floor, forcing Atlanta's rim protectors to crash aggressively whenever scorers like Tatum or Brown would attack the rim, resulting in the Hawks scrambling defensively.
How Atlanta adjusts to contain Boston's 3-point shooting will be one of the biggest difference-makers in this series.
Celtics vs. Hawks predictions
Kyle Irving: Celtics in five
Carlan Gay: Hawks in seven
Stephen Noh: Celtics in five
Scott Rafferty: Celtics in six
Jordan Greer: Celtics in five
Gilbert McGregor: Celtics in five
