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Celtics try to bounce back in Game 4 versus Hawks

Mon 28th, April 2008

(Sports Network) - The top-seeded Boston Celtics try to bounce back from a surprising loss, as they visit the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks tonight at Philips Arena for Game 4 of their first-round series.

Boston leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday at TD Banknorth Garden.

On Saturday, Josh Smith poured in 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out six assists to lead the Hawks to a shocking 102-93 victory over the Celtics in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Joe Johnson drained five three-pointers for 23 points to go along with seven boards and six assists for Atlanta, which was hosting its first playoff game since 1999. Rookie Al Horford recorded 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, as the Hawks' starting five all finished in double figures.

Mike Bibby, who struggled mightily in the first two contests of the series, added 12 points and eight assists in the victory.

NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett collected 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who won the first two games of the series by a combined 42 points. Paul Pierce netted 17 and Ray Allen scored 13 in defeat.

Boston has dropped three of its last five Game 4s in the playoffs, while the Hawks have lost four straight Game 4s in the postseason.

The Celtics captured a playoff berth and the Atlantic Division title for the first time since the 2004-05 season. Boston finished with its highest number of wins (66) since the 1985-86 squad went 67-15 before winning the NBA title. With a 66-16 mark in the regular season, Boston collected 42 more victories than it did last season, when it finished with a dismal 24-58 record. Boston earned the honor with ease thanks to an 8-0 start to the season, and later pushed the mark to 29-3 with a big win over Detroit in early January.

The young and surprising Hawks are back in the playoffs for the first time since the strike-shortened 1998-99 campaign. Atlanta battled all season and fended off both Indiana and New Jersey to finish with its best record in 10 years, as the 1997-98 team went 50-32 before a quick exit from the playoffs.

Boston is 5-0 all-time in the playoffs against the Hawks. The Celtics defeated Atlanta in the postseason in 1972, 1973, 1983, 1986 and 1988.

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