Boston Celtics squeak by Atlanta Hawks 107-102

JET came up big for the Celtics in overtime.

Remember that one time when the Celtics won comfortably? No? Me neither. Regardless, a win that tests my blood pressure and my overall heart health is infinitely better than a loss that does the same.

Jason Terry, Jeff Green and Paul Pierce combined for 8-15 shooting from behind the 3-point line as the Celtics edged Atlanta in overtime, and three of those 3-pointers were monsters. Green bounced in a trey that gave Boston a one-point lead, Pierce drained a deep, contested three that did the same, and Terry put the Celtics up by 3 with what ended up being the game-winning shot in the extra period.

Josh Smith, playing against the team that was almost HIS team for the first time since the trade deadline, poured in 32 points including an end-of-the-shotclock 3-pointer late in the overtime period that reeked of an improbable dagger. But Jeff Green forced a turnover by stripping Smith which led to Terry’s go-ahead 3-pointer and Boston held on.

The win tied the Celtics with the Hawks in the win/loss column, but the Celtics moved to sixth overall as they hold a 2-1 lead in the season series. The Bulls stayed half a game ahead of Boston in fifth by knocking off Utah, and Brooklyn stayed a game and a half ahead in fourth by beating Washington.

We will have plenty more on this game tomorrow. Just make sure to check your heart rate before you go to bed tonight, and report any anomalies to your doctor, because this all starts up again Sunday afternoon against OKC.

Follow Tom on Twitter: @Tom_NBA.

John says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:52 am
We needed this tonight especially with OKC on sunday.Our bench was terrific scoring 46 points Jet was huge again Jeff Green continues the best strecth of his career and I will give Danny credit for finding a way to replace Barbosa with Crawford who like Barbosa did scores big buckets in short strecthes.As excited as I am I am really disssapointed that we lost Rondo since this 14-4 run it shows me how we could have played with him.Danny was right when he said guys just hand it to Rondo the way were playing on both ends the fact that we have 6 different ball handlers in every game the unpredictable factor the ball moving guys moving without the ball if Rondo was there and not gambling for steals or running up the floor of a miss with guys like Bradley,Lee,Terry,Crawford, Green it bothers me a lot.Well he is not here and I just play the what if again this year but in the now 20-10 in our last 30 during that span we have streaks of 6,7 and 5 games and with Atlanta and Chicago with tough schedules and our schedule also tough but after Okc games against the Bobcats and Raptors we SHOULD have the opportunity to move 9 games over 500 losing to OKC should not get any of us down there the best team in the west for a reason but I expect us to compete and keep it close GO CELTICS STAY HEALTHY PLEASE
Like or Dislike: 1 0
Al Galoppo says:
March 9, 2013 at 12:09 pm
what a game.
being picky, I could bitch about the (way too much) space given to teague and harris, but overall everybody played their best.
go Cs, bring on the thunder!
Like or Dislike: 1 0
Erick says:
March 9, 2013 at 4:26 pm
And the streak continues, and they’ve been showing up against contenders and .500 teams… this smells good, please… remain healthy, sleep enough and drink water, cause this next trip looks hard.
Like or Dislike: 0 0
CPUFC says:
March 10, 2013 at 6:43 am
Shut down Durant and Westbrook…easier said than done.
Like or Dislike: 0 0

John says:

March 9, 2013 at 12:52 am

We needed this tonight especially with OKC on sunday.Our bench was terrific scoring 46 points Jet was huge again Jeff Green continues the best strecth of his career and I will give Danny credit for finding a way to replace Barbosa with Crawford who like Barbosa did scores big buckets in short strecthes.As excited as I am I am really disssapointed that we lost Rondo since this 14-4 run it shows me how we could have played with him.Danny was right when he said guys just hand it to Rondo the way were playing on both ends the fact that we have 6 different ball handlers in every game the unpredictable factor the ball moving guys moving without the ball if Rondo was there and not gambling for steals or running up the floor of a miss with guys like Bradley,Lee,Terry,Crawford, Green it bothers me a lot.Well he is not here and I just play the what if again this year but in the now 20-10 in our last 30 during that span we have streaks of 6,7 and 5 games and with Atlanta and Chicago with tough schedules and our schedule also tough but after Okc games against the Bobcats and Raptors we SHOULD have the opportunity to move 9 games over 500 losing to OKC should not get any of us down there the best team in the west for a reason but I expect us to compete and keep it close GO CELTICS STAY HEALTHY PLEASE

Like or Dislike: 1 0

Al Galoppo says:

March 9, 2013 at 12:09 pm

what a game.
being picky, I could bitch about the (way too much) space given to teague and harris, but overall everybody played their best.
go Cs, bring on the thunder!

Erick says:

March 9, 2013 at 4:26 pm

And the streak continues, and they’ve been showing up against contenders and .500 teams… this smells good, please… remain healthy, sleep enough and drink water, cause this next trip looks hard.

Like or Dislike: 0 0