Celtics Take Game 4 From Hawks 104-95 In OT To Tie Series 2-2
BOSTON (CBS) -- And just like that, the Celtics and Hawks are down to a best of three.
The Celtics once again took care of business on their home court with an exciting 104-95 overtime win in Game 4 in Boston, tying their first-round playoff series against Atlanta at two games apiece. Isaiah Thomas once again led the way for Boston with 28 points, while Marcus Smart was a force off the bench with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Smart scored 11 straight for Boston in the fourth quarter, while also tasked with guarding Paul Millsap on the defensive end.
Millsap ended the night with a game-high 45 points but was frustrated for much of the game's final frame and overtime with Smart guarding him, scoring just two points in the final 10:33 of the game.
The Celtics trailed by 16 points midway through the third, but showed off their trademark grit by battling back. They closed the third quarter on an 8-0 run to cut a double digit deficit to a one-possession game, and took the lead on back-to-back Jonas Jerebko hoops to start the fourth quarter. Jerebko finished the night with 16 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-doube.
The Hawks made a comeback of their own late in the fourth quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from Jeff Teague, giving them a 92-90 lead with 15 seconds left. But Thomas drove to the basket for an easy layup to tie things up at 92-92 on Boston's final offensive possession of regulation, and Teague couldn't get off a last-second shot as time expired after dribbling out much of the clock.
The Celtics took an early lead in overtime on back-to-back Amir Johnson layups from Smart, and never looked back. Thomas, who shot 11-of-23 for the night, hit a difficult three in the corner with 30 seconds left to put Boston on top 102-95, ending any chance of another Atlanta comeback.
"We never give up," Thomas said after the win. "We have a group of guys who have been counted out their entire life. We continue to fight and believe in each other, and stuff usually works out in our favor."
Game 5 is set for Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. in Atlanta.
