Atlanta Hawks end Boston Celtics' NBA play-offs challenge
Friday 29 April 2016 07:15, UK
The Atlanta Hawks eliminated the Boston Celtics from the NBA play-offs with a 104-92 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals at TD Garden in Boston.
Paul Millsap had 17 points and eight rebounds and Al Horford and Kent Bazemore each scored 15 points for Atlanta, who led by as many as 28 in the second half as they clinched the series 4-2.
The Hawks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, which begins on Monday at Quicken Loans Arena.
Atlanta lost all three meetings with the Cavaliers during the regular season by an average of 9.7 points, while Cleveland also swept the Hawks when the two teams met in last season's Eastern Conference finals.
Isaiah Thomas had a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists to lead Boston. Joe Crowder finished with 15 points and Marcus Smart and Jonas Jerebko each added 13 for the Celtics.
Boston shot 36.2 per cent (34 of 94) on Thursday and were held to 38.4 per cent (206 of 537) in the series.
The Hawks outscored the Celtics 39-26 in the third quarter and led 89-61 with 9:51 remaining.
The hosts battled back to come within 96-86 on Thomas' floater with 1:48 left, but the visitors held firm to progress.
