Final: Hawks 117, Celtics 116 - Lazy C's torched by turnovers, offensive rebounds

BOSTON CELTICS (9-2) vs. ATLANTA HAWKS (4-7)

TD Garden, 7 p.m. - NBCS Boston

Line: Boston -15.5

NBA Emirates Cup Tournament Group Play Game

INJURIES

Boston: Kristaps Porzingis (OUT, ankle), Jayson Tatum (QUESTIONABLE, ankle), Al Horford (QUESTIONABLE, toe), Jaden Springer (QUESTIONABLE, knee)

Atlanta: Trae Young (OUT, Achilles), Bogdan Bogdanovic (OUT, hamstring), De’Andre Hunter (OUT, personal reasons), Kobe Bufkin (OUT, shoulder), Vit Krejci (OUT, adductor), Cody Zeller (OUT, not with team)

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Better start: Point differential matters in cup games, and as much as you or I might not care about this tournament, players are required to care. The league is pushing this so teams have to buy in, which means the Celtics need to start hot and stay hot to pile up as many points as they can. 

By the way, that also means that if Boston happens to be up 30 in the fourth quarter, don’t be surprised if the starters are still on the floor to run up the score. 

2. Jaylen Brown regaining his touch: He had a tough offensive game in Milwaukee and it’s possible he might be leaned on to make up for Tatum if JT misses the game. So I want to see some better decisions and better shots for Brown as the main focus of the offense. 

3. Get Sam Hauser going: He has been getting good looks. Now let’s see him finish some of them. I’m assuming the C’s will be shorthanded today with Atlanta decimated by injuries and Boston on the back-to-back (they play in Brooklyn tomorrow night). A Hauser explosion would be very helpful tonight. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.