Game Preview: Celtics v Hawks

The Boston Celtics face the second night of a back-to-back, as they play host to
the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on Monday evening. The Celtics (38-21) are coming
off a hard-fought 104-98 win in Detroit on Sunday evening, where Isaiah Thomas
led the way with 33 points on 10-of-23 shooting. Four other players scored in
double digits to lift the Celtics, including Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart, who
added 14 points each. Boston is 7-3 in it’s last 10 games and remains second in
the East. The Celtics sit three games ahead of the third-place Wizards and thee
games behind the first-place Cavaliers. The Celtics have won their last seven
games at home, where they are 20-8 so far this season. Avery Bradley (achilles)
remains doubtful for action on Monday. Meanwhile, the Hawks (32-26) have hit a
slide, as they have lost three straight and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. They
are coming off a 105-86 loss in Orlando on Saturday, where Tim Hardaway Jr. was
the high-point man with only 15, while four other players added 11 points each.
The Hawks sit fifth in the East, 2.5 games behind the fourth-place Raptors. They
have dropped two straight on the road, where they are 16-14 so far this season.
Thabo Sefolosha has been active in the last two games, after missing a couple of
weeks with a groin injury, and should be in action on Monday.