Jayson Tatum is out, but will Jaylen Brown suit up? Hawks face a shorthanded Celtics squad in a crucial Eastern Conference showdown.
The Atlanta Hawks are rolling through March in their home venue. With 12 straight victories at State Farm Arena, Atlanta will look to extend that streak to 13 with a big Eastern Conference matchup against the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
Boston is on the second night of a back-to-back, which benefits the Hawks, but the Celtics are always one of the most formidable teams in the NBA, no matter when they play.
Atlanta and Boston just squared off against each other this past weekend, with the Celtics gaining a 109-102 victory. The Hawks continue to play exceptional team basketball and are the hottest team in the East since the All-Star break.
For the Celtics, their injury report is lengthy, and it features star forward Jayson Tatum being ruled out with right Achilles management. Nikola Vucevic has also been ruled out, and the expectation is that Jaylen Brown will play after missing two games with left calf tightness. Neemias Queta is also doubtful with a thumb sprain. Derrick White (right knee contusion) is also expected to play.
As for the Hawks' injury report, it's much shorter. The only name that popped up on Monday's report about six hours before tip-off is Jock Landale, who is dealing with an illness. One can assume that since Queta and Vucevic have both been ruled out, Atlanta will also rule out Landale because they don't necessarily need the extra side.
Although the Celtics have a number of players who will be sidelined for this game, that doesn't mean it will be an easy win for Atlanta. The load management injuries might give the Hawks a marginal advantage in terms of Boston having fewer capable scorers, but if Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard are playing, Boston will likely score at a high clip.
This is another big test for the Hawks, who continue to try to prove that they, too, are Eastern Conference threats, and with just seven games left on Atlanta's schedule, it's time to start thinking about the NBA playoffs, with each remaining game being played.
