NBA releases Celtics-Hawks first-round schedule

The NBA has launched the first-round schedule for the matchup between the second-seeded Boston Celtics and the seventh-seeded Atlanta Hawks. Breaking information: the groups will play at the very least 4 instances (and when you’re the Celtics, you’re aiming it to simply be 4 instances).

We’ve identified since Monday that the Celtics had been going to tip off Recreation 1 on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., however after final evening’s play-in recreation when the eighth-place Hawks marched in and blew the seventh-place Miami Warmth out in their very own constructing, we now know who precisely the Celtics shall be enjoying. Please ship constructive ideas to the Celtics beat writers who thought they had been getting a second South Seashore trip go to in a row throughout the playoffs.

After Saturday’s Recreation 1, the Celtics get two days off earlier than suiting again up Tuesday evening for the early 7:00 p.m. begin. One other two days are in between Video games 2 and three with the Celtics touring to Atlanta for a pair of street video games. The primary is on Friday earlier than Recreation 4 ideas off on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. After that, ought to the collection go the gap, they’ll have one recreation between every matchup for Video games 5-7 at undetermined instances.

Curiously sufficient, that is an NBATV collection, with Recreation 2 being broadcast on that community. The final time I can bear in mind (don’t truth verify me please) Boston getting an NBATV collection was Recreation 2 towards . . . the Atlanta Hawks . . . in 2012 with Rajon Rondo suspended and Ray Allen injured. In case you bear in mind, that was an iconic Paul Pierce efficiency in the midst of a memorable playoff run that led the Celtics to make it to Recreation 7 of the Jap Convention Finals.

The Celtics have larger hopes this yr, hoping to recreate the consequence from 2008 once they confronted the Atlanta Hawks within the first spherical en path to a championship. The Celtics had comparatively little hassle scoring towards the Hawks within the common season, so with some fine-tuning, this generally is a quick collection if the Celtics present up and do what they should do.

Recreation 1 ideas off Saturday on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET.