Celtics Vs. Hawks: Boston Cruises To Win With First Quarter That Was 'Perhaps Single Most Dominant Of Kevin Garnett Era'

When the Celtics aren't "bored," they're a pretty good team, huh? 

What was supposed to be a close contest between a couple of teams have sparked a rivalry over the past few seasons was over as quickly as it started as Boston ran out to a 39-13 first quarter and never looked back, breezing past the Atlanta Hawks, 99-76. 

It was a dominant performance for the Celtics, with one of the best first quarters you'll see in the NBA all season. More from CelticsBlog: 

• The first quarter was perhaps the single most dominant quarter of the Kevin Garnett era for the Celtics. They outscored the Hawks 39-13, shot a blistering 72 percent from the field (18-25), committed just two turnovers, and out-rebounded the Hawks 16-3.
• But it was the team's first quarter defense that stole the show. The C's applied great ball pressure, contested practically every shot, made great rotations - particularly inside - and held the Hawks to 4-17 shooting (23.5 percent). It was a defensive clinic for the first 12 minutes.

The Celtics went a long way to silence some critics with the impressive win. 

Boston returns to action Wednesday night, back at home, where they'll host the New Jersey Nets in a Thanksgiving Eve matchup. 

Celtics Vs. Hawks: Kevin Garnett Leads Boston Past Atlanta, Snaps Two-Game Losing Streak

After losing close games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Toronto Raptors, the Boston Celtics took care of business Monday night as they were able to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 99-76 in what was supposed to be a tough road matchup.

Nate Robinson got the starting nod again from head coach Doc Rivers as he decided to let Rajon Rondo sit out to rest a hamstring injury he suffered last week against the Thunder. Robinson had another successful night, scoring 16 points and dishing 10 assists. Robinson was 4-for-5 from the three-point line, including two consecutive threes midway through the fourth quarter.

Kevin Garnett had a very strong showing, leading all scorers with 17 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Paul Pierce and Shaquille O'Neal totaled the same amount of points with 13, and O'Neal added 11 rebounds. 

Ray Allen showed his struggles again as he only managed nine points and was 4-of-8 from the field. Allen only attempted two three-point baskets and connected on one of them. This is the second consecutive game in which Allen has struggled from beyond the arc.

The bench had a solid showing in the forth quarter as the second-team offense combined for 27 points including six points from Delonte West and seven from Glen Davis. 

Rookie Avery Bradley made his NBA debut late in the fourth quarter and scored two points in six minutes. 

The Celtics return home to face the New Jersey Nets Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.

Celtics Vs. Hawks: Boston Takes On Atlanta, Looking To Avoid Third-Straight Loss

The Boston Celtics will look to end a mini-slide and stop their current two-game losing streak Monday night when they face the Atlanta Hawks. 

The Celtics, playing without Rajon Rondo who was held out to rest his hamstring, dropped Sunday's game in Toronto to the Raptors, 102-101. Coupled with Friday's loss to Oklahoma City, it's the first time the Celtics had lost back-to-back games since Games 6 and 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. Boston also lost the final two regular season games last year. They last lost three straight games Mar. 28-Apr. 2. 

CelticsBlog reminds that "the Celtics have been beat up, and haven't had one single game with it's full cadre of rotation players all healthy, and like any older team, there are going to be nights when the enthusiasm isn't there." But Monday night in Atlanta will not be one of those nights.

The Hawks are on the list of 'kinda rivals even though its obvious that they take it more seriously than the Celtics do', along with the Bulls. The two teams are remarkably similar; both the Bulls and Hawks have taken the Celtics to a 7 game playoff series in the first round of the playoffs, both teams are young, athletic squads with emotional former University of Florida alumnus leaders, and neither team has won anything in the past 5 years.

As for the Celtics and their injuries, Rondo is still questionable but it's sounding like it won't be playing according to Doc Rivers: "If this was a playoff game, would he play? Yeah. But we have back-to-backs, and if we can probably not play him in both, we have three days off and it gives him a chance to get healthy."

Rondo sat out all of Sunday's game. Nate Robinson got the start in his place, playing 34 minutes while recording 22 points and two assists.