Celtics Beat Hawks in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Semifinals
DeAndre Hunter's Clutch Three-Pointer Helps Atlanta Avoid a Sweep
The Boston Celtics took a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, winning 128-120 at State Farm Arena. DeAndre Hunter led the Hawks with 24 points, including a clinching three-pointer with 92 seconds remaining that brought Atlanta within four points.
Boston Celtics Dominate First Half
The Celtics came out firing on all cylinders, shooting 61.3% from the field in the first half and building a 30-point lead before the end of the second quarter. Jayson Tatum led the way with 21 points in the first half, while Jaylen Brown added 19.
The Hawks, meanwhile, struggled to keep pace, shooting just 38.5% from the field in the first half. Trae Young, Atlanta's leading scorer, was held to just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
Atlanta Hawks Fight Back in Second Half
The Hawks came out of the locker room with renewed energy in the second half, outscoring the Celtics 34-19 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 99-83. Hunter led the charge with 12 points in the quarter.
Atlanta continued to chip away at the lead in the fourth quarter, and Hunter's three-pointer with 92 seconds remaining brought the Hawks within four points. However, the Celtics were able to close out the game and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
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