Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics: Game Day Info – Lineups, Injury Report, Series Notes, etc.

Teague goes around Bradley for a contested layup. (Scott Cunningham/NBA/Getty Images)

UPDATE:

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Game Preview:

When these teams last met at the end of January, the Hawks erased a 27-point deficit to get an overtime victory and Rajon Rondo played the overtime after tearing his ACL.

What a wild game.

At any rate, Atlanta takes the trip to face the Rondo-less Celtics, and these two teams always play entertaining games. Boston has played extremely well in recent days, going without a traditional point guard and running most everything through Paul Pierce. Pierce is a match-up nightmare for anyone, but the Hawks will have to use Stevenson in extended minutes here, and since he doesn’t play on back-to-backs, it may be the Dahntay Jones show in Brooklyn on Saturday.

The Celtics are defending at a very high level, and when they deploy the Bradley/Lee backcourt with KG in the middle, the numbers are staggering. Nothing comes easy between these two teams, but it’s a winnable game.

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Quick Facts

Who?: Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics

What?: Rivalry Game (Game #61, Road Game #32)

Where?: TD Garden (Boston, MA)

When?: Friday, March 8, 2013 – 8:00 PM (EST)

How?: SportSouth HDTV / 680 AM & 93.7 FM

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Projected Starting Lineups

Atlanta Hawks: 

PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Devin Harris | SF: Josh Smith | PF: Johan Petro | C: Al Horford

Boston Celtics:

PG: Avery Bradley | SG: Courtney Lee | SF: Paul Pierce | PF: Brandon Bass | C: Kevin Garnett

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Injury/Inactive Players Report

Atlanta Hawks: Zaza Pachulia (sore right Achilles), Ivan Johnson (personal reasons) and Lou Williams (torn right ACL) are out.

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo (torn right ACL) and Jared Sullinger (lumbar disc surgery) are out.

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Current Records/Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold

Records: Atlanta Hawks (34-26) … Boston Celtics (33-27)

Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Won 1 / HOME: Won 2 / ROAD: Lost 3 … Boston Celtics –> OVERALL: Won 4 / HOME: Won 8 / ROAD: Won 3

Home/Away Records: Hawks are (15-16) away … Celtics are (21-9) at home.

Atlanta Hawks: Cold. The Hawks beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, but that was at home. Away from Atlanta, the Hawks have lost three in a row.

Boston Celtics: Hot. The C’s are riding a four-game win streak overall and have won eight straight in Boston.

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Season/Past Season Series

Atlanta heads to Boston for the first time this year in the third-of-four showdowns between the clubs. The teams have split two games at Philips Arena, with Boston posting an 89-81 triumph (1/5), coming back from a 19-point deficit. The Hawks evened things up with a 123-111 double-overtime win on 1/25, coming back from 27 down for the victory. Rajon Rondo recorded triple-doubles in each of the first two games, averaging 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists. Josh Smith has two double-doubles against the Celtics on the year, averaging 14.5 points and 12.0 rebounds. In the 1/25 game, Kyle Korver hit a career-high eight 3FGs (all in the second half to set the franchise record for triples in a half) on his way to 27 points. Atlanta visits Boston on 3/29 to closeout the season series. The Hawks have dropped two straight in Boston with their last road win coming on 1/11/10 (102-96). The Celtics lead the all-time series 219-133, including a 117-34 home record.

LAST MEETING — HAWKS 123, CELTICS 111 (2OT) — PHILIPS ARENA (ATL, GA) — 1/25/13)

In perhaps the club’s biggest comeback in franchise history, the Hawks overcame a 27-point deficit, pulling away in the second overtime to knock off Boston, 123-111. Atlanta was outscored 29-10 in a flat first quarter, and was down 57-38 at the half. The Hawks started the second half on a 21-2 run to pull even at 59. However, Boston pushed the lead back to four through three (73-69). The Celtics moved ahead by as many as 10 with under five minutes left before the Hawks forced overtime. In the second OT, Atlanta scored the first 10 points and ended up outscoring the Celtics, 16-4. Kyle Korver hit a career-high eight three’s (all in the second half, setting a franchise record) on his way to a 27-point night. Al Horford added 24 with 13 rebounds (career-high tying 10 FTM) and Jeff Teague put in 23. Josh Smith (17 points/14 rebounds), Devin Harris (14) and Ivan Johnson (11) also hit double-figures. Kevin Garnett’s 24 points and 10 rebounds paced Boston.

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Common Threads

Doc Rivers played for Atlanta from 1983-91 and is the club’s all-time leader in assists (3,866). Josh Smith and Rajon Rondo were roommates at Oak Hill Academy. Celtics assistant Armond Hill served in the same capacity with the Hawks in 2003-04 and is a former Hawk (six seasons). Jason Terry played for the Hawks from 1999-2004. Doc Rivers coached Zaza Pachulia with Orlando in 2003-04. Hawks scout Greg Ballard coached Kevin Garnett (1999-2004) during his time with Minnesota. Celtics assistant coach Tyronn Lue was a Hawk from 2004-08 (189 games). Jordan Crawford played in 16 games in a Hawks uniform as a rookie in 2010-11.

Information was used from the Hawks and Celtics official gamenotes