Celtics 85, Hawks 93

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Paul Pierce gets hacked from behind by Zaza Pachulia on a fast-break shot attempt.
Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

Was it the 25-19 third quarter spurt that gave the Hawks a lead they never relinquished? Maybe. Was it the ridiculous, prayer of a shot that Jamal Crawford took in behind the 3-point line in the left corner with plenty of time left on the shot clock, resulting in a four-point play? Possibly. Or how about that 3-pointer by Mike Bibby to make it a two-possession game after the C's had cut a 15-point deficit down to two?

There were so many plays in this game that could be called the key moment, but we're going to take choice No. 3: Bibby's 3-pointer.

Boston scored 14 points over a 2:42 span of the final period to help turn a blowout into an intriguing ending. With that aforementioned 15-point lead cut down to two, the momentum was seemingly all on the Celtics' side. But that's when Big Shot Bibby decided to make a cameo. He's been known for making big shots throughout his career, but it didn't seem like he was going to be the one tonight. However, when Josh Smith hit him with a pass behind the 3-point line, Bibby knew exactly what to do with it.

His trey put Atlanta ahead by five with 2:54 to go -- plenty of time for Boston to make a comeback -- but it seemed like that was the shot that really deflated the Celtics' chances. The lead was temporarily cut down to three once more, but Boston never got closer than that.

Key Box Score Line

Jamal Crawford has developed a reputation for hitting big shots when they count during his NBA career, and the man did everything he could to cement that rep tonight. He scored 14 of his team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter and was the main reason Atlanta held on for the win tonight. Among his 14 fourth-quarter points was a spectacular (and borderline ridiculous) four-point play that came to life as he lost the ball out of his hands. He grabbed it behind the 3-point line in the left corner of the court and as his momentum began taking him out of bounds, he rose up for a rainbow three that touched nothing but net. To make things worse for Boston, he just so happened to get fouled by Kendrick Perkins on the play, too. Without his offensive prowess in the final period, chances are the Hawks would have blown this game.

Box Score Nuggets

• Paul Pierce scored a game-high 21 points and also grabbed six steals.
• Rajon Rondo (11 points, 10 assists) and Kendrick Perkins (15 points, 14 rebounds) both had double-doubles. It was the third straight game Perk finished with a double-double.
• Crawford scored 18 off the bench for Atlanta, but no other bench player managed more than two points for the Hawks.
• Boston took 24 3-pointers, many of which were ill-advised, and made only nine of them.
• Rasheed Wallace made only one of his eight 3-point attempts.
• Atlanta racked up 25 assists against the vaunted Celtics defense.
• Joe Johnson scored only 12 points, but led the team with eight assists.
• Al Horford (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Smith (15 points, 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles for Atlanta.
• The Hawks shot 8-of-16 from the 3-point line.
• Neither team scored more than 34 points in the paint (34 for Atlanta, 30 for Boston).

Quote of the Night

Jamal Crawford on his four-point play: "I knew it was good as soon as I let it go. I got fouled, so I didn't really have a chance to see it. But after hearing the crowd's reaction, I kind of figured it went in. It was a big momentum play for us."