Boston can clinch a postseason berth on Friday, as a win and a Raptors loss — Toronto is hosting New Orleans at 8:30 p.m. — would see the Celtics clinch a playoff spot.
Atlanta is coming off an overtime win in Detroit against the East-leading Pistons. Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists in the win. Johnson leads the Hawks in scoring (22.8), rebounds (10.3), and assists (8.1) this season.
The Celtics have a busy injury report for Friday’s game, with Jaylen Brown (calf), Derrick White (knee), and Neemias Queta (thumb) all questionable to play. Nikola Vucevic remains out after fracturing his finger earlier this month.
Get Starting Point
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden and on NBC Sports Boston. Here’s a preview.
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Boston -5. O/U: 226.5.
HAWKS
Season record: 41-32. vs. spread: 40-33. Over/under: 37-36
Last 10 games: 9-1. vs. spread: 8-2. Over/under: 6-4
CELTICS
Season record: 48-24. vs. spread: 41-31. Over/under: 26-46
Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 4-6
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Atlanta 118.4, Boston 114.2
Points allowed per game: Atlanta 116.6, Boston 107.0
Field goal percentage: Atlanta .474, Boston .463
Opponent field goal percentage: Atlanta .474, Boston .441
3-point percentage: Atlanta .368, Boston .361
Opponent 3-point percentage: Atlanta .356, Boston .356
Stat of the day: Jayson Tatum played a season-high 35 minutes on Wednesday against the Thunder.
Notes: Tatum turned in what was arguably his best performance of the season during Wednesday’s 119-109 win over Oklahoma City. He had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. “I think that game was awesome,” Jaylen Brown said. “I think that, one, the intensity level of the game was very high. Felt like a playoff game. The crowd was into the game. And I felt like that was a great encouraging game for JT, like, high-level intensity, physical team. And it felt like that was a step in the right direction.” … Boston (48-24) is 7-2 since Tatum returned to the court following a lengthy absence rehabbing a torn Achilles. “It definitely feels different,” Tatum said. “Just from the standpoint, it’s been a while since I’ve been in certain moments. And sometimes the best moments when I don’t have a chance to think, when I’ve just got to react and I got to move, whether it’s coming off a ball screen or on a closeout or you get a rebound and you’ve just got to take off with the ball. And it will be moments like that and afterwards I’d be like, ’All right, that felt good. That felt normal.’” … Atlanta is 15-2 since the All-Star break. … The Celtics and Hawks will also meet Monday in Atlanta.
Amin Touri can be reached at [email protected].
