On Tuesday, the Boston Celtics will host the Atlanta Hawks for game five of their Eastern Conference playoff series. Tipoff for game 5 is at 7:30 p.m. EDT at the TD Garden.
Update Injury for Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks
The Boston Celtics dominated the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, winning 129-121 to take a 3-1 series lead. Now they return to Boston, where they will try to finish the game and get some rest before facing the Sixers, who are already resting after sweeping the Nets.
The Celtics dominated in all phases, led by 31-point scorers Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Despite struggling from three early on, Tatum reached 30 points for the first time in the first round. For the third time this season, he blocked at least three shots.
Tatum has averaged 28.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 block, and 0.8 steals in four playoff games versus Atlanta, shooting 44/40/87.
Meanwhile, Marcus Smart (back) contributed 19 points (8-14 FG, 3-8 3Pt), 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Smart was allowed to play after being labeled as questionable due to a lower back contusion. The veteran point guard didn’t seem to be hampered at all, finishing third on the team in scoring behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in 29 minutes.
Smart has averaging 17.0 points, 6.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals in 31.5 minutes per game during the first four games of the opening-round series. He’s prepared for Game 5.
Danilo Gallinari (knee) has been ruled out of Game 5 against the Hawks on Tuesday, according to Kevin Chouinard of the Hawks’ official website.
Gallinari is still recovering from offseason ACL surgery and has yet to play this season. There’s still a chance he’ll play in the postseason, but the Celtics haven’t released an update indicating he’s close to returning.
The Atlanta Hawks have an uphill struggle in their attempt to dethrone the Celtics, the conference’s No. 2 seed.
They won Game 4 in Atlanta on Friday, but the Celtics showed up on Sunday night and finished the job.
The Hawks hung in there, but they were always playing catch-up. They pulled within four points just before halftime, but the Celtics finished the half strong and carried a double-digit lead into the break. The Hawks trailed throughout the remainder of the game.
Trae Young led the team with 35 points and 15 assists.
Young had the most points and assists of the series, as well as multiple steals for the third time in four games.
The All-Star point guard averaged 33.5 points, 12.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in the last two games in Atlanta.
He only had 20.0 points and 7.0 assists in the first two games in Boston, so he’ll need to be better on the road in Game 5 on Tuesday if the Hawks are to avoid elimination.
Nobody is injured, but keep a watch on Murray, who had a run-in with an official after the game. The league is looking into possible disciplinary action.
