The comeback was for naught. Even after clawing their way back from a 51-34 halftime deficit with some hot shooting, the Celtics fell just short of the Hawks in Game 1 in Atlanta, losing 102-101.
The Celtics have bigger things to worry about than losing this game, though. In the second half, Avery Bradley tweaked his right hamstring and left the game.
Scary moment in ATL, Bradley goes down with what looks like a hamstring injury, couldn't make it to the bench. https://t.co/cmtVU9kByM
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) April 17, 2016
Strained right hamstring for Bradley. Done for the night.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) April 17, 2016
Losing Bradley, their best perimeter defender, for an extended period of time would be brutal for the Celtics. But they have to be encouraged by the second-half effort. They found success creating turnovers and getting out in transition to score, and got big plays in the third quarter from Bradley, Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart.
Atlanta’s counter-punch in the fourth quarter was led by Jeff Teague, who shouldered much of the load offensively after his backup, Dennis Schroder, struggled.
And even after all of that, the Celtics still had a chance to win. Smart missed this heave at the buzzer with less than a second left that came just after the buzzer but almost went in:
This one-handed heave from Marcus Smart wouldn't have counted, but it would have been damn impressive pic.twitter.com/IahWyKA1sz
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) April 17, 2016