The Atlanta Hawks will be looking for another big game from guard Trae Young when they attempt to pull even in their Eastern Conference playoff series with the visiting Boston Celtics by winning Game 4 on Sunday night.
After losing the first two games of the series in Boston, the Hawks received a game-high 32 points from Young in a 130-122 victory Friday night. Young made 12 of his 22 shots from the floor and finished the game with nine assists and six rebounds.
It was by far his best game of the series. Young shot 14-for-40 from the field during Games 1 and 2 in Boston.
Friday’s victory was the first time the Hawks have beaten the Celtics this season. In addition to winning the first two games in the series, Boston won all three regular-season matchups.
Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray scored 25 points in Game 3, and, like Young, was at his best in the fourth quarter, when the Celtics were threatening to take a 3-0 series lead. Young (15) and Murray (seven) scored 22 of Atlanta’s 30 points in the final 12 minutes.
Boston guard Marcus Smart said the Celtics will have to be more physical to prevail in Game 4. Atlanta outscored Boston 54-40 in the paint Friday night and had a 48-29 edge in rebounding. The Hawks had 11 offensive rebounds.
Seven Atlanta players scored in double figures in Game 3, when the Hawks scored their most points in a playoff game since a 137-125 victory over Detroit in 1986.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 29 points in the Game 3 loss. He had 10 of Boston’s 29 rebounds.
One positive for Boston in the loss was the contribution the team received from Grant Williams, who didn’t play in the first two playoff games. Williams came off the bench Friday and made each of his four field goal attempts — all 3-pointers. He finished with 14 points.
