Boston Celtics NBA Playoffs Game Today: Celtics vs Hawks Injury Report, Starting Lineup, Predictions, TV Channel for April 15

The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks do battle on April 15 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals’ No. 2-No. 7 matchup — and Las Vegas foresees the Cs handily taking care of business in the series’ opening salvo.

In what has not been a common occurrence, the Celtics will open up the series with just Danilo Gallinari — who tore his ACL before training camp after signing for the MLE last July — on the injury report.

With the odds stacked against them, a fully healthy Atlanta will march into the TD Garden fully intact in their own right. What will happen in the opening contest of Boston’s quest for Banner 18? Today, we find out.

Atlanta Hawks: 7th (ORtg), 22nd (DRtg), 6th (Pace), 19th (NRtg)

Boston Celtics: 2nd (ORtg), 2nd (DRtg), 20th (Pace), 1st (NRtg)

Boston Celtics Projected Starting Lineup

PG –Marcus Smart, SG – Derrick White, SF – Jaylen Brown,  PF – Jayson Tatum , C – Robert Williams III

Atlanta Hawks Projected Starting Lineup

PG – Trae Young, SG – Dejounte Murray, SF – De’Andre Hunter, PF – John Collins, C – Clint Capela

Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks Injury Report

Celtics PF Danilo Gallinari (ACL) – Out

Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction

With fully healthy rosters, the Celtics being such heavy favorites in Game 1 is largely built on the team’s reputation and the struggles the Hawks have faced since their 2021 trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.

If Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson truly did “poison” Jayson Tatum (and possibly others) to not take the regular season as seriously as the postseason, then it’s time for the Celtics to kick things into high gear and win as they’re expected to.

Hardwood Houdini believes the Cs will win, but doing so by double digits is a tough proposition in a slowed down postseason setting.

Celtics 101 Hawks 95