The Boston Celtics (57-15) travel to face off against the Atlanta Hawks (33-39) on Thursday, March 28th. This game will be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and televised on NBCS. The Hawks are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Celtics are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Trail Blazers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 ET.
Celtics vs Hawks
The Celtics Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Celtics will look to bounce back from a defeat in their last game, losing to the Hawks with a final score of 120-118. Heading into the second half, the Celtics were leading 74-56.
So far, the Celtics are 57-15 overall and have gone 2-1 in their last three games. In Eastern Conference play, the Celtics are 38-8 compared to 19-7 in non-conference matchups.
Boston currently has an ATS record of 37-32, placing them above .500 against the spread. During this season, Boston has a 35-31 record against the spread as favorites and 2-1 as underdogs.
The Hawks Are Coming Off A Win
In the Hawks’ most recent game against the Trail Blazers, Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 30 points while going 13/20 from the field. The Hawks picked up a 120-106 win, and Garrison Mathews also added 21 points which was 2nd on the team.
Coming into today’s game, the Hawks are 33-39 overall and have won three straight. When facing other teams in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks are 19-26 and they are 14-13 in non-conference games.
Atlanta comes in with an overall ATS record of 26-46 so far this season. The Hawks currently have a two game ATS win streak as the favorite and are 11-21 vs. the spread as underdogs.
Celtics Offense Breakdown
Today, the Celtics enter the game as one of the NBA’s top-scoring teams, averaging 121.1 points per game (2nd).
When it comes to scoring, the Celtics are one of the top teams in the league, averaging 121.1 points per game (2nd). They have scored 75% of their games above the NBA scoring average. On the road, Boston is averaging 119 points per game.
Heading into the game, the Celtics are 9th in field goal percentage at 48%. They have been especially effective from beyond the arc, leading the league in three-pointers made per game (16.6). Overall, they are shooting 39% from three (3rd).
Despite their success from deep, Boston is just 29th in two-point field goals made per game. They are also 19th in pace at 97.4 possessions per game. In terms of offensive rebounds, the Celtics are 13th in the league.
Hawks Offense Breakdown
The Hawks step onto the court for today’s game as one of the NBA’s top-scoring squads, putting up 119.2 points per game (5th).
This season, the Hawks have been one of the NBA’s most potent offenses, ranking 5th in scoring at 119.2 points per game. At home, they have been even better, averaging 122.7 points per game.
One of the keys to Atlanta’s success has been their ability to get to the free-throw line. They are 6th in free-throw attempts and 3rd in made free throws at 19.1 per game.
When it comes to three-point shooting, the Hawks are 6th in made threes but just 14th in three-point shooting percentage. Overall, they are 20th in field goal percentage.
Celtics Team Defense
On defense, the Celtics come into the game ranked 6th in the league in points allowed at 109.6 per game. Over their last three games, the team is allowing 111.7 points per contest (25th). Opponents are hitting 52.2% of their two-point field goal attempts this season, and they’re also connecting on 34.7% of their three-point attempts.
Hawks Team Defense
So far, the Hawks defense is giving up 120.5 points per contest, which has them sitting 27th in the NBA. One thing to note, is they have given up more points than their season average in two straight matchups. In the terms of takeaways, Hawks are causing 12.5 turnovers per game, ranking 14th in the league. They also enter the matchup ranked 23rd in rejections, averaging 4.6 blocked shots each game.
Key Players For The Celtics And Hawks
In today’s game, we anticipate Jayson Tatum leading the scoring for the Celtics, contributing 26 points while shooting 9/19 from the field. This season, he is averaging 27.3 points per game along with 8.2 boards.
As for Atlanta, Dejounte Murray is projected to be the primary scorer for the Hawks. Our forecast has him finishing the game with 22, and adding 5 rebounds. This season, he is shooting at a field goal percentage of 46.6%, and his scoring average is 22.4 points per game.
Celtics vs Hawks Trends
- Through their last ten road games, Boston has an ATS record of just 7-3. However, their overall record was 7-3 while averaging 119 points per game.
- Across their five previous home games, Atlanta has an ATS mark of 1-4. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-4 while averaging 110 points per game.
- As the betting underdog, the Hawks have an ATS mark of just 2-3 in their last five games. Atlanta posted a straight up mark of 2-3 in these matchups.
- Boston has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 4-1 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
Celtics vs Hawks Prediction
For a point-spread wager in this Celtics vs. Hawks game, we suggest taking the Hawks at +17.5. Even though our predictions have the Celtics winning 115-111, we see the Hawks as the better choice on the point-spread.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 227.5 and our model has the Celtics and Hawks finishing with a combined 226 points. Our pick is to take the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:March 28, 2024 Celtics, Hawks