The Celtics have gone under in 11 of their 16 games this season, including going below the total in six of their eight away contests. Most of these Unders have been way below the lined total, too.

Boston showed why its No. 1 in the NBA in fewest points allowed and defensive field goal percentage holding defending world champion Golden State to a season-low 88 points in a 92-88 home victory two nights ago. The Warriors entered that matchup averaging a league-best 119.6 points.

This puts the Celtics in a flat spot against the 3-12 Hawks. I regard Brad Stevens as the best coach in the Eastern Conference. He'll keep the Celtics focused defensively on the Hawks reminding his players that Atlanta scored 107 points in a three-point road loss to Boston just 12 days ago. That was was the most points the Celtics have allowed all season and only one of two games in their last 14 matchups that Boston has surrendered triple-digits.

The Hawks have short revenge so that should ensure a strong, focused defensive effort from them. Atlanta hasn't played since Wednesday when it blew out the Kings by 46 points. So there could be a shooting rust factor for the Hawks having had two full days off. There's also a huge step-up factor for them going from the Kings to the Celtics.

But how did the Hawks-Celtics play such a high-scoring game in Boston's 110-107 victory? Each team shot well above their norm from the floor. The Celtics rank 27th in field goal percentage making 42.7 percent of their shots. They hit 48 percent in that game. The Hawks also shot 48 percent from the field. They are a 45.5 percent shooting team. Atlanta also made 13 of 26 shots from 3-point range.