Barry Recks
The Boston Celtics can push the Atlanta Hawks to the edge of elimination with a win this coming Friday. But the Hawks are ready to go all out in what is essentially a must-win game for them.
Read on for more about this Celtics vs Hawks matchup in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, including the latest odds, pick, and prediction to win this showdown, as brought to you by JefeBet. Also, don’t forget to check out the other NBA game previews here to help you make the best betting decisions.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks NBA Playoffs Game 3 Round 1 on April 21, 2023
- Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta
- When: Friday, April 21, 2023, 7:00 PM ET
- NBA Betting Odds: View NBA Odds
Betting on the Boston Celtics
- Regular Season Record: 57-25
Here’s one way to sum up what the Celtics are to Atlanta so far in the first round: too much. Boston dominated the Hawks once again in its 119-106 win in Game 2 on Tuesday. The Celtics’ suffocating defense is doing a masterful job at crippling Atlanta’s attack, with the Hawks shooting only 40.7 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from deep in the series.
Boston’s defense is not letting the Hawks get a ton of easy looks, let alone buckets. In Game 2, the Celtics even had 12 blocks, split between the bigs and the wing/guard positions. Al Horford and Robert Williams had five blocks combined, while Jaylen Brown and Derrick White had five together as well. The Celtics enter Game 3 with a 7-3 SU record and a 6-4 ATS slate in their last 10 games in Atlanta.
Betting on the Atlanta Hawks
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
The Hawks will just have to keep on shooting. If there’s one positive takeaway from their loss in Game 2, it’s that they had 101 attempts from the floor, while Boston only had 86. Converting those shots into baskets is another thing, but at least the Hawks are getting opportunities. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray missed a ton of shots in Game 2, but they should be better in Game 3 when they play in a friendlier environment.
Perhaps getting a bit more aggressive in attacking the paint to fish more fouls will be an adjustment the Hawks need to make after taking only eight shots from the foul line last Tuesday. One player to watch out over the side of the Hawks is Bojan Bogdanovic, who’s averaged 13.5 points and shot 42.9 3FG% in the first two games of the series.
JefeBet Prediction
Look for the Hawks to move the ball better in Game 3, as they try to solve Boston’s defense. Young and Murray will get fewer attempts from the field, but will create more for their teammates. Atlanta shows enough for at least a cover in Game 3.
Prediction: The Celtics win, 117-115.
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