Preview
After losing three games in a row last week, the Boston Celtics have bounced back with wins against the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies, and the team will look to win their third consecutive game tonight as they take on the struggling Atlanta Hawks.
The matchup in Atlanta will come less than 24 hours after the Celtics defeated the Grizzlies 122-116. It was another Celtics win that was fuelled by an incredible individual performance by Kyrie Irving, as the 26-year-old recorded 38 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds.
The win over the Grizzlies boosted the Celtics record for the season to 27-18, and Boston will be confident of picking up another victory over a struggling Hawks team. Atlanta currently sits 12th in the East standings with a 14-30 record, and the team is already well out of playoff contention. Nevertheless, the Hawks, earlier this week, dropped 142 points during an impressive victory over the OKC Thunder, and Atlanta has also enjoyed an extended period of rest.
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Team News
Brad Stevens will once again have a full roster to choose from, although the Celtics are likely to be unchanged for a third consecutive game. Al Horford has managed to retain his place in the side despite Aron Baynes returning from a four-week layoff due to a thumb injury, and the Australian is likely to be on the bench in Atlanta.
Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum had a poor game against the Grizzlies, although the young forward is unlikely to drop to the bench. There have also been calls for Jaylen Brown to return to the starting lineup, although Stevens is likely to continue to favor Marcus Morris.
Predicted Boston Celtics starting line-up: Jayson Tatum (F), Marcus Morris (F), Al Horford (C), Kyrie Irving (G), Marcus Smart (G)
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