Hawks Final Score: Hawks 123, Celtics 111 2OT

The Hawks fell behind by 27 in the first half, but made the most improbable of comebacks in the second half to force overtime and eventually won in double-overtime over the reeling Celtics. The Hawks dominated the third...

...Wait. I think I just heard Kyle Korver make another three...

quarter and, in a reversal of fortune from their last matchup, it was the Hawks who caught fire in the second half to erase a double-digit half time deficit (19) to go on to victory. Kyle Korver scored 27 points in the game, with 24 coming in the second half. Korver hit 8-of-12 three point attempts including three in a 2:10 stretch late in the fourth quarter to cut the lead from 10 to two. Korver was on NBA Jam-esque fire in the second half shooting 80% from distance and setting a new Hawks record for three-pointers made in a half (fell one shy of Steve Smith's record of nine in a game).

...and another...

The Hawks outscored the Celtics 31-16 in the third quarter in a near repeat of the Celtics performance less than a month ago (33-9 in the third). Atlanta shot a miserable 4-of-23 (17.4%) in the first quarter and fell behind 28-10 after one. They were down 57-38 at the half, but Larry Drew switched up the lineup and went small to speed up the Celtics and it worked to perfection. The Hawks forced seven turnovers (for 11 points) and had 17 fast-break points in the third quarter, while the Celtics forced just three turnovers (3 points) and had 0 fast-break points. The Hawks tied the game at three different points in the third, but never took the lead until the fourth.

...STOP IT KYLE THE GAME IS OVER...

In the fourth, the Hawks led 80-77 after, you guessed it, a Korver three with 8:54 to play, but the Celtics took the lead back and had a 10 point lead with 4:44 to play. Korver hit more threes and the Hawks were able to comeback and tie it. They had a chance to win off of an in-bounds play with 3.7 seconds to play and Josh Smith caught the lob off the in-bound, but he was unable to dunk, so he came down with it and tried to go back up but was unable to draw a foul on Paul Pierce.

...KAHL?!...

The first overtime was full of panicky moments for the Hawks, none more-so than a turnover with 23.6 seconds to go and the game tied that gave the Celtics the final possession. The Celtics went to Pierce, but Smoove stayed with him and blocked Pierce's shot at the buzzer. The second overtime was all Hawks as they dominated, 16-4, and pulled away after Kevin Garnett fouled out with 3:41 to play in double overtime.

...THREEEEEEEE....

Kyle Korver finished with a season-high 27 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals to lead the Hawks. Al Horford had his 22nd double-double of the season with 24 points and 13 boards in 51 minutes to play (mind you he was a game-time decision whether he would play at all). Josh Smith had 17 points, 14 boards, and seven assist (and only 2 turnovers!). Jeff Teague fouled out in the first overtime, but had 23 points (on 8-of-11 shooting), seven assists, four rebounds, and three steals in his 40 minutes. The Hawks had six players in double figures and three over 20 (first time all year). They only turned the ball over 12 times for 13 Celtics points, while forcing 21 turnovers for 24 points. They out ran the Celtics with 34 fast-break points to 24 for Boston, and dominated the paint with 50 points to 38 for Boston.

...MOAR KORV3R...

As Larry Drew said after the game, " I've never been a part of anything like that." The comeback from 19 down at the half tied the largest comebacks in franchise history (1969 and 2004), and was a huge win emotionally, not just to come back from a big deficit, but to do it against the Celtics. Good Night.

Kyle just made another three.