Jeff Green's jumper to tie halfway down as C's lose 109-105 in Atlanta

First Quarter

Celtics started out on fire going 17-22 from the field and 4-4 from deep on their way to a 42-30 lead over Atlanta after the first.

Superstar Jeff Green (as opposed to confounding Jeff Green) took advantage of his matchup with Demarre Carroll finishing the frame with 14 points on 6-7 from the field (1-1 from 3 and the line).

Jared Sullinger put the ball on the floor early and often on his way to seven points (1-1 from deep) and Rajon Rondo had seven assists in just seven minutes.

2nd Quarter

As the great Dominique Wilkins observed the Celts missed some easy opportunities early but Atlanta could not throw the ball in the ocean to start the quarter as Boston increased their lead to 53-30 with 7 minutes to go in the half.

The Hawks then countered Boston's 11-0 run with a 7-0 run of their own to cut the lead to 53-37.

Unfortunately, the Celtics finished the half with numerous turnovers (bad passes and charging calls) letting Atlanta back in the game before an exclamation dunk by Jeff Green increased the Boston lead back to 15: 63-48.



Kent Bazemore countered with a highlight dunk of his own before Sullinger hit a beautiful three at the buzzer to end the half.



Halftime: Celtics 66 Atlanta 50

Avery Bradley scorched the net (minus a couple bad shots) going 6-10 (2-4 from 3) for 14 points.

Rajon Rondo with an absurd 14 assists as well as six rebounds.

Boston outrebounded Atlanta 24-11

Third Quarter

Celts started out the third with back to back threes from Sully and Avery as Boston upped their lead to 22.

Boston struggled mightily after these two threes but a bail out call on Jeff Teague and a run out by Jeff Green allowed the Celtics to keep Atlanta at an arm's length 79-65.

Atlanta proceeded to go on a 7-0 run cutting Boston's lead to 7.

The Celtic meltdown continued minus a great hustle tip by Sullinger and late spin move by Jeff Green as Boston went into the fourth leading by just five.

Fourth Quarter

Game tied 85-85 after a Bazemore three with 11:15 to go.

Dennis Schroder and one.

Atlanta 88 Boston 85 10:48 to play.

Marcus Thornton hit a three and incredibly tough runner to keep Boston in the game as the teams went into a time out at 92 all with 8:14 left on the clock.

The Hawks picked up the defensive pressure and Boston looked like they were just plain and simply out of gas as a bad Evan Turner pass on the break with less than two minutes to play looked as though it had sealed Boston's fate.

That is until a cut and three point play by Jeff Green cut the Atlanta lead to 107-105 with 49.5 to play.

Paul Millsap missed a tough floater and Boston called their final time out trailing by 2 with 23.8 to play.

A frenetic possession ensued as Jeff Green's mid range jumper was halfway down and Kent Bazemore made a layup on the other end.

Final: Atlanta 109 Boston 105

@ClintCorey
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