BOSTON CELTICS VS. ATLANTA HAWKS EXPERT PICK – MARCH 25, 2024 — Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Total Apex Sports. One of the games on tap from tonight’s slate features the Boston Celtics (57-14 SU, 38-30-3 ATS) taking on the Atlanta Hawks (31-39 SU, 24-46 ATS).
Here is a look at how both squads are performing coming into this matchup.
Tipoff
When: Monday, March 25, 2024 @ 7:30 PM ET
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
TV: NBA TV, BSSE, and NBCS-BOS
Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks – Regular Season Stats & Trends
Can The Celtics Clinch The Top Seed In The Eastern Conference?
Boston Celtics Season Stats:
- Scoring Offense: 121.2 PPG – 2ND
- Offensive Efficiency: 123.4 points per 100 possessions – 1ST
- Scoring Defense: 109.4 PPG – 6TH
- Defensive Efficiency: 111.5 points per 100 possessions – 3RD
The Boston Celtics own the best record in the association. They need just one victory or a loss by the second-place Milwaukee Bucks to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
On top of that, they stroll into this matchup riding a nine-game winning streak. This includes a 124-113 win against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
In that contest, four starters reached double figures, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum’s 26-point, six-assist performance.
Sam Hauser and Al Horford contributed 23 points each, while Derrick White finished with 17 points, six assists, and three rebounds.
Regardless of who has been in and out of the lineup, the Boston Celtics keep finding ways to win games. Tatum and Horford missed the team’s 129-102 win over the Pistons, and Jaylen Brown sat out the game against Chicago.
Horford offered the following via CBS Sports:
Different people, different guys, are ready to step up when their number’s called. We all understand what we’re trying to do, how we’re trying to play. Guys are just staying ready and taking advantage of the opportunities.
The two-game set against the Hawks will mark the third and fourth games of Boston’s six-game road trip. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, look for the Celtics to cruise to another victory against a Hawks team that has its share of injuries.
Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and Saddiq Bell missed Saturday’s game. Even more important, there is no definitive timetable as to when Young will return to the lineup.
Can The Defensively Challenged Hawks Snap The Celtics’ Nine-Game Winning Streak?
Atlanta Hawks Season Stats:
- Scoring Offense: 119.2 PPG – 5TH
- Offensive Efficiency: 118.1 points per 100 possessions – 9TH
- Scoring Defense: 120.7 PPG – 28TH
- Defensive Efficiency: 119.6 points per 100 possessions – 28TH
On the other side of this matchup, the Atlanta Hawks are currently locked into the final play-in spot. However, they trail the ninth-seeded Chicago Bulls by just 2.5 games. Given the inconsistency Chicago has played with this season, overtaking that team for the ninth spot is quite feasible.
Over their last 10 contests, the Hawks have gone 5-5. On a positive note, they recently snapped their two-game skid with a much-needed 132-91 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
Dejounte Murray set the tone for the offense with a team-high 28 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the floor and an impressive 7-for-9 effort from beyond the arc. Murray also tallied 12 assists, seven rebounds, and four steals.
Both Bruno Fernando and Garrison Matthews came off the bench and provided Atlanta with 25 and 20 points, respectively. Atlanta placed six players in double figures en route to shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and they connected on 20 of their 42 attempts from 3-point range (47.6 percent).
And despite having the third-worst defense in the league, Atlanta held Charlotte to 41.7 shooting overall and 28.2 percent shooting from distance. Unfortunately, it is doubtful that the Hawks can keep pace with a Boston Celtics team that is clicking on all cylinders.
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