The Boston Celtics went into Atlanta last night with a chance to knock out the Atlanta Hawks and get some rest as they would await the winner of the Bulls and 76ers series.  Coming off of a blowout win in Boston on Sunday night the Celtics were riding high and looking to put the finishing touches on a first round series.

Much of the talk before the game was if Celtics captain Paul Pierce would suit up after he suffered a knee injury in practice on Saturday and then reagrivated his knee during the game Sunday.  Pierce played limited minutes on Sunday and he could afford to witht he game being in hand for the majority of the second half.  Pierce did suit up and played well.  Pierce along with Brandon Bass led all Celtics scorers with 16.  Pierce hit a huge three pointer with less than a minute left to cut the Hawks lead to 1.  On the very next possession after a Celtics stop he had a chance to take the lead but was short on a fall away jumper from the top of the elbow.  As a Celtics fan you have to be encouraged to see that he played 36 minutes in a game in which he was doubtful to play to begin with.

The Celtics jumped out quick on the Hawks getting up 11-3 and ultimately enjoying a 6 point lead after the first quarter.  The Hawks caught up and a Rajon Rondo three pointer at the buzzer tied the game heading into halftime.  The Hawks were the stronger team to begin the third quarter as they built a 12 point lead late in the quarter but a strong finish to the quarter had them trailing by just 2 points going into the fourth quarter.  The fourth quarter was as entertaining as any quarter this series has had as it was back and forth with big shot after big shot being made.

Down by 1 point with 10 seconds to play the Hawks were inbounding the ball side out.  The Celtics having to foul decided that they would jump Joe Johnson and try to prevent him from getting to the foul line as he was their best option.  Rajon Rondo intercepted the inbound pass and the Celtics who were without a timeout scrambled up the court.  Josh Smith who inbounded the ball slowed down Rondo and forced him to the corner where Al Horford trapped him in the corner.  Rondo lost the ball and when he saved it and tried to pass to Kevin Garnett, Josh Smith got his hand on the ball and the clock expired.

The Hawks had lived to see another day and will head to Boston where they will look to win in a venue which they havent had much success in.  Encouraging for the Hawks was the play of Al Horford who was playing in his second game since early January.  Horford posted a double double ending the game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

I think the Celtics will close this series on Thursday night.  I don't think the Hawks are a team that has any success on the road.  The Celtics will feed of of the home crowd and take care of business.