The Atlanta Hawks have proven one thing. When in a do-or-die situation they have shown the ability to survive by pushing the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinal series to another game. Sunday afternoon the Hawks and Boston Celtics return to the Garden for a final and unexpected game-seven. Again, the Hawks will be a heavy road underdog and for good reason. The home team has been dominant through the first round of this series. And historically, eight-seeds don’t fare well against one-seeds in the playoffs. Game-seven is at 1:00 p.m. at the Garden on Sunday.
Only three times in history has an eight-seed defeated a one seed and only once has it happened in a seven-game series. In 2007 Baron Davis led eight-seed Golden State to a series win over Dallas.
Online oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have the Celtics favored by a 14 ½ point chalk with a 189 ½ total.
Falling victim to another fourth-quarter rally led by Joe Johnson, the Celtics again came up short in Atlanta on Friday. Johnson hit a crucial three-pointer with 1:07 remaining and the Hawks held on for a 103-100 victory that evened their first-round series at three games apiece. Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and Ray Allen added 20 for Boston.
The Celtics are still the favorite, having won all three games on their home court in the series by an average of 22 points. But the Hawks have lasted longer than anyone would have expected.
Marvin Williams led the Hawks in game-six with 18 points despite missing much of the fourth quarter with a sprained left knee. Kevin Garnett had 22 for the Celtics and Ray Allen added 20, but Paul Pierce, the other member of Boston's Big Three, fouled out on a disputed call in the fourth quarter.
NBA Playoffs Pick: Atlanta +14 ½.
