Trae Young scored 32 points in his best game of the playoffs and the Atlanta Hawks gave themselves a ray of hope by beating the Boston Celtics 130-122 on Friday to close the gap to 2-1 in the first-round series.
Young hit a step-back 3 from the corner with 2:21 remaining and knocked down another huge basket on a floater in the lane with 45 seconds remaining after Jaylen Brown missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it for the Celtics. .
The seventh-seeded Hawks will try to even the series against the second-seeded Celtics in Game 4 on Sunday night at State Farm Arena.
Jayson Tatum scored 29 points to lead Boston, which was barely challenged in the first two games of the series.
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Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) celebrate before a win against the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game 3 of a basketball playoff series of the NBA first round, on Friday, April 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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Young was under fire after making just 14 of 40 shots at Beantown. He was much better in Game 3, hitting 12 of 22 shooting and dishing out nine assists.
Dejounte Murray had another big game for the Hawks, scoring 25 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:40 left that helped Atlanta protect a slim lead.
Unlike the first two games in Boston, where the Celtics built big leads and notched a pair of 13-point wins, the Hawks finally put up a fight.
With Derrick White forced to the bench early on with two quick fouls, the Hawks took advantage of a crack in Boston’s defense to get things rolling. Atlanta made 30 of 46 shots (65.2%) in the first half.
De’Andre Hunter was excited. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Fueled by a standing room only crowd, the Hawks built a series-high 14-point lead late in the first half.
But the Celtics responded with eight straight points and went to the locker room down 74-67.
It was Atlanta’s first win over Boston this season. The Hawks lost all three regular season games.
TIPS
Celtics: White played just 9:58 in the first half after being called for a couple of fouls before the game was up to five minutes. … Marcus Smart landed hard on the small of his back with about 2 1/2 minutes remaining, but stayed in the game. He finished with 24 points.
Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic was shot in the face in the tackle by Malcolm Brogdan early in the fourth quarter. Bogdanovic went to his knees in pain and was substituted during a timeout. … Basketball Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins felt ill before the game and did not serve as an analyst on the Hawks’ regional broadcast. Brian Oliver took Wilkins’ regular spot alongside announcer Bob Rathbun.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) shoots at Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of Game 3 of a first round NBA basketball playoff series, on Friday, April 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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LONG ODDS
The Hawks still face big odds. They are 0-26 in playoff series in the franchise’s 74-season history when they lost the first two games.