2 min read • March 01, 2022
Posted in
Budding East stars Jayson Tatum and Trae Young will square off Tuesday night, as both enter playing the best ball of their careers.
The red-hot Celtics are 18-6 since Jan. 8, and included in that run is a 105-95 win over the Hawks on Feb. 13, holding Trae Young to 9-26 from the field and exploding for 42 points in the 3rd quarter.
And while 36-27 Boston is healthy and injury-free, the 29-31 Hawks will likely be playing once again without their starting power forward and second-leading scorer, John Collins, who has missed 5 straight games and is listed as doubtful in Boston with a right mid-foot sprain.
Collins presumable suffered the injury Feb. 11 – although there is no clear video evidence of trauma causing the sprain – and is gradually increasing the intensity of his on-court workouts.
In his short absence the Hawks have fallen back on their best asset: a deep bench.
Athletic sophomore forward Onyeka Okongwu has averaged 11.3 points and 1.5 blocks on 90% shooting in his last 4 games, while veteran bucket-getter Danilo Gallinari has scored 25-or-more twice since moving into the starting lineup.
Bogdan Bogdanovic has been an excellent contributor as well off the bench, scoring 20 points with 5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2 steals on 50% shooting in his last 5.
One person have not been able to rely on is 3-time Sixth Man of The Year Lou Williams, who has been ineffective and hampered with hip, hamstring, and back issues for much of the season. The 35-year-old has been ruled out for the game with a hip injury.
Boston, meanwhile, has fallen back during its recent streak on its best asset, Jayson Tatum. Tatum is averaging 27.1 points with 7.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 47.8% shooting and 37.2% from 3 in his last 16 games, much improved from his earlier-season efficiency.
He will go head-to-head with Trae Young, who has scored 41 points twice in the last 4 games. Young will likely be uniquely attacked by the aggressive Celtics' defense, led by Marcus Smart, who has returned from a nasty right ankle sprain with no apparent ill-effects. Their is little between the teams in terms of injury advantages but there is value to be had:
Kevin Huerter O11.5 Points
U226.5 Total Points
Written by
