Final: Hawks 108, Celtics 92 - Celtics collapse late again

GAME 50
Boston Celtics (25-24, 9-14 road, 8th East) vs. Atlanta Hawks (22-25, 12-11 home, 12th East)
State Farm Arena
7:30 PM - NBC Sports Boston

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

Boston: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams

Atlanta: Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, Clint Capela

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

- Celtics are at full rotation health (this how I’m going to put it considering Bol Bol and PJ Dozier are both on the report for the rest of the season). 

- The Hawks have won five straight games - the second-longest winning streak in the NBA and longest in the Eastern Conference. Over those five games, Atlanta is averaging 119.8 PPG and 27.8 APG (.500 FG%, .390 3FG%, .846 FT%). Atlanta is holding its opponents to .433 FG% and .320 3FG%.

- Over his last six games, Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 11.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 2.2 BPG, which included pouring in a season-high 18 points on 1/26 against SAC (.692 FG%, .800 FT%). This season, Okongwu has a plus/minus of +47 – the ninth-best plus/minus for all second-year players.

- Atlanta’s favored by 1.5

THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR

1. Can the Celtics turn Trae Young into a one-dimensional player? “We want to make him beat us with isolations all game,” Ime Udoka said before the game. “He's really a threat when he can do both, you know, score in the 30s and get 13,14 assists. He's kind of got the lob threats there, picking the gym apart, so we want to keep bodies in front of him. Make him work for everything, use our length and size advantages there.” 

This could be a big Josh Richardson night, who will get a chance to use his size on Young. “On a guy like Trae Young, he has always been good using this length, so he kind of solidifies our defense as far as that,” Udoka said. 

2. Carrying the right attitude over from their blowout wins. The Celtics SAY they are aware of their history of slacking in these situations. 

“I think our guys understand that we need to continue to build and continue to get better,” Horford said. “(Jayson Tatum) was very vocal about that in our shootaround today in understanding that we needed to stay locked in and come out ready to play. Tonight, this is going to be a big challenge. Atlanta's been playing really well and I think we all know that. So we're looking at this as an opportunity to come out and compete. Continue to build on how we've been playing."

This is everything right here. If the Celtics can come out with the right attitudes and effort, regardless of the outcome, we can feel good about them being on the right path. If they come out lazy and lackadaisical, then it’s the same old Celtics. In a lot of ways, this could be the most important stretch of the season. If they come out well, then things are looking up. If they don’t, then forget it. They're just going to be a .500 team.

3. Jayson Tatum revenge tour: It’s not like being voted sixth among East forwards is horrible, but Tatum is coming in with the knowledge that players voted Miles Bridges and Jarrett Allen ahead of him for All-Star frontcourt could trigger a little revenge tour for Tatum. He’s starting to feel it a little bit and his attacking has been better. If this added motivation happens to trigger a stretch of “Uh oh, you made him mad” performances, so be it. 

GAME THREAD

Stick around for more comments below as the game goes on. Feel free to add your two cents in the comments.