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(Sports Network) - The eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks attempt to stay alive in the postseason, as they host the top-seeded Boston Celtics tonight at Philips Arena in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Boston leads this best-of-seven series 3-2. If necessary, Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday at TD Banknorth Garden.

On Wednesday, Paul Pierce scored 22 points as the Celtics crushed Atlanta, 110-85, at TD Banknorth Garden in the pivotal Game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Pierce, who shot 10-of-17 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists in the victory.

Kevin Garnett collected 20 points and seven assists for the Celtics, while Ray Allen nailed five three-pointers and finished with 19 points in the win for Boston.

Joe Johnson scored 21 and Josh Smith added 18 points for Atlanta, which shot 40.6 percent from the field. The Hawks were behind by 15 at the half and never went ahead in the final two quarters. Johnson was limited to 14 less points than what he had in Game 4.

The home team has won every game in this series.

Boston has won two straight Game 6s in the playoffs, while the Hawks have dropped two straight Game 6s in the postseason.

The Celtics are attempting to win their first playoff series since defeating Indiana, 4-2, in round one of the 2003 postseason. Boston is 3-5 in its last eight contests when it has had the chance to eliminate its opponent from the postseason.

Atlanta has lost three of its last four contests when facing elimination from the playoffs.

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.

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.