This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Boston • Paul Millsap had 17 points and eight rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs with a 104-92 Game 6 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Al Horford and Kent Bazemore each added 15 points for the Hawks, who earned their first playoff series win over Boston since the St. Louis Hawks beat the Celtics in the 1958 Finals.
The Hawks open the second round on Monday at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Celtics last three playoff appearances have ended in first-round exits.
Coming off a 27-point win in Game 5, the Hawks took advantage of poor shooting by Boston on Thursday, building as much as a 28-point lead.
Atlanta blew the game open with a 39-point third quarter in which it shot 74 percent from the field.
The Celtics shot just 36 percent for the game. They made a final charge to get as close as 10 points, but Atlanta was able to close it out.
Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 25 points and 10 assists. Jae Crowder added 15 points.
For most of the game, the Hawks simply benefited from Boston's struggles.
The Celtics played most of the second half with Crowder battling foul trouble.
He went to the bench after picking up his fourth foul with 11:21 left in third quarter. Coach Brad Stevens rolled dice and re-inserted him, only for Crowder to be called for his fifth foul with 8:13 to play.
Crowder fouled out with 3 minutes to play.
But most of the damage was done much earlier.
There was lots of energy inside TD Garden from the home fans at tipoff, and Boston did a decent job of matching it on the defensive end, forcing four early turnovers.
The offensive end was another story. The Celtics started game by connecting on just four of its first 18 field goal attempts and shot 28 percent in the first half.
It let the Hawks get a little separation with Boston managing only four points in the first 6 minutes of second quarter.
TIP-INS
Hawks: All five starters reached double figures.
Celtics: Were 7 of 32 from the 3-point line.
NBA playoffs
Best-of-7 first round, x-if necessary
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland 4, Detroit 0
Game 1 • Cleveland 106, Detroit 101
Game 2 • Cleveland 107, Detroit 90
Game 3 • Cleveland 101, Detroit 91
Game 4 • Cleveland 100, Detroit 90
Toronto 3, Indiana 2
Game 1 • Indiana 100, Toronto 90
Game 2 • Toronto 98, Indiana 87
Game 3 • Toronto 101, Indiana 85
Game 4 • Indiana 100, Toronto 83
Game 5 • Indiana 102, Toronto 99
Friday • Toronto at Indiana, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday • Indiana at Toronto, TBD
Charlotte 3, Miami 2
Game 1 • Miami 123, Charlotte 91
Game 2 • Miami 115, Charlotte 103
Game 3 • Charlotte 96, Miami 80
Game 4 • Miami 89, Charlotte 85
Game 5 • Charlotte 90, Miami 88
Friday • Miami at Charlotte, 6 p.m.
x-Sunday • Charlotte at Miami, TBD
Atlanta 3, Boston 2
Game 1 • Atlanta 102, Boston 101
Game 2 • Atlanta 89, Boston 72
Game 3 • Boston 111, Atlanta 103
Game 4 • Boston 104, Atlanta 95 OT
Game 5 • Atlanta 110, Boston 83
Game 6 • Atlanta 104, Boston 92
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Golden State 4, Houston 1
Game 1 • Golden State 104, Rockets 78
Game 2 • Golden State 115, Houston 106
Game 3 • Houston 97, Golden State 96
Game 4 • Golden State 121, Houston 94
Game 5 • Houston 114, Golden State 81
San Antonio 4, Memphis 0
Game 1 • San Antonio 106, Memphis 74
Game 2 • San Antonio 94, Memphis 68
Game 3 • San Antonio 96, Memphis 87
Game 4 • San Antonio 116, Memphis 95
Oklahoma City 4, Dallas 1
Game 1 • Okla. City 108, Dallas 70
Game 2 • Dallas 85, Okla. City 84
Game 3 • Okla. City 131, Dallas 102
Game 4 • Okla. City 119, Dallas 108
Monday • Okla. City 118, Dallas 104
Portland 3, L.A. Clippers 2
Game 1 • LA Clippers 115, Portland 95
Game 2 • LA Clippers 102, Portland 81
Game 3 • Portland 96, LA Clippers 88
Game 4 • Portland 98, LA Clippers 84
Game 5 • Portland 108, LA Clippers 98
Friday • LA Clippers at Portland, TBD
x-Sunday • Portland at LA Clippers, TBD
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland vs. Atlanta
Monday • Atlanta at Cleveland, 5 p.m.
Wednesday • Atlanta at Cleveland, 6 p.m.
May 6 • Cleveland at Atlanta, 5 p.m.
May 8 • Cleveland at Atlanta, 1:30 p.m.
x-May 10 • Atlanta at Cleveland, TBA
x-May 12 • Cleveland at Atlanta, TBA
x-May 15 • Atlanta at Cleveland, TBA
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio
Saturday • Okla. City at San Antonio, TBD Monday • Okla. City at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.
May 6 • San Antonio at Okla. City, 7:30 p.m.
May 8 • San Antonio at Okla. City, 6 p.m.
x-May 10 • Okla. City at San Antonio, TBA
x-May 12 •San Antonio at Okla. City, TBA
x-May 15 • Okla. City at San Antonio, TBA