BOSTON – It was the Paul Millsap show in the first half as he scored 26 points, providing the Hawks with just enough to put the Boston Celtics in a 48-46 halftime deficit.
The first half featured seven lead changes and a pair of ties, delivering the kind of intensity from both sides that’s needed in what both understand is a pivotal game in this series.
Boston had a slim lead after one quarter of play, but soon found themselves in catch-up mode as the Hawks opened the second with a 9-2 run capped off by a tip-in from Mike Muscala that made it a 30-26 game.
Brad Stevens had seen enough, calling a time-out with 9:14 to play in the half.
Boston continued to chip away at Atlanta’s lead, and went ahead on a short floater in the lane by Amir Johnson that made it 36-35 with less than five minutes to play in the half.
Isaiah Thomas added to the lead with high-arcing, driving hook shot off the backboard by Isaiah Thomas to lead 38-35.
Boston would lead by as many as six points in the quarter, but they struggled to score in the final minutes of the second as Atlanta closed out the half with a 13-5 run.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics could not have asked for more to start the game, with Jae Crowder – shooting less than 20 percent in this playoff series – drained a 3-pointer for the game’s first points. Boston soon got a basket from Isaiah Thomas to account for the game’s first five points.
But the Hawks proved to be a resilient bunch as they bounced back with a 15-6 run fueled by the play of Millsap.
A three-time All-Star, Millsap has been limited in terms of scoring through the first three games.
Prior to tonight’s tip-off, Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer said his star player would play well tonight.
And Millsap didn’t disappoint, scoring nine points during Atlanta’s first 15 points which put the Hawks 15-11.
But the Celtics, facing a much more aggressive Atlanta team offensively, didn’t flinch.
They bounced back with a 9-0 run of their own in the first that was capped off by a driving lay-up by Thomas past Dennis Schroder who seemed to be affected – in a bad way for Atlanta – by the extremely vocal Celtics crowd which booed him every time he touched the ball.
Schroder, who had 20 points in Game 3, had just 2 points at the half while missing six of his seven shot attempts.