The Celtics will go for their eighth straight win on Wednesday night as they face off with the Atlanta Hawks in a battle to top Eastern Conference teams to begin the year. Boston will have a stiff challenge against the Hawks starting backcourt of Dejounte Murray and Trae Young since they will be without Marcus Smart (ankle) and Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) in the matchup. That will place a heavier onus on both Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to hold down the fort at point guard in their absence. Atlanta will be at full strength beyond swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic.
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What TV channel is the game on? What time will it start? Wednesday’s game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Atlanta. The game will air on TV via NBC Sports Boston in New England. If you are out of market, the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Live stream info: WatchESPN | NBC Sports | Sling | fuboTV - If you have cable and live in New England, you can use your login credentials to watch the game via NBC Sports. If you are out of the New England market, you can stream the game on WatchESPN by logging into your credentials. If you don’t have cable, you can stream the game on smart TVs and streaming devices via Sling and fuboTV, which has a free trial.
More coverage via the Associated Press
Boston Celtics (11-3, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (9-5, third in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Trae Young and Jayson Tatum meet when Atlanta hosts Boston. Young is 10th in the NBA averaging 26.9 points per game and Tatum is fourth in the league averaging 31.9 points per game.
The Hawks are 7-4 in Eastern Conference games. Atlanta ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Clint Capela averaging 4.4.
The Celtics are 8-3 in Eastern Conference play. Boston is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Young is averaging 26.9 points and 9.3 assists for the Hawks. Dejounte Murray is averaging 21.5 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 45.3% over the last 10 games for Atlanta.
Marcus Smart is averaging 11.4 points and 7.1 assists for the Celtics. Tatum is averaging 31.9 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 49.1% over the last 10 games for Boston.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 6-4, averaging 116.6 points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game while shooting % from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 121.5 points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game while shooting % from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic: out (knee).
Celtics: Danilo Gallinari: out for season (knee), Robert Williams III: out (knee), Malcolm Brogdon: day to day (hamstring).