Philips Arena

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff ATLANTA -- The Celtics are in search of two big men while veteran Jermaine O'Neal has decided on season-ending wrist surgery and his Boston tenure is over. Other than that, the Celtics are healthy and said they are ready to atone for the past two losses, especially Saturday at Denver when players questioned effort. As for the Hawks, they have been banged up. Marvin Williams (hip flexor), Vladimir Radmanovic (back) and Jannero Pargo (appendectomy)

It's difficult to determine how to view the first quarter of Game 1 of the Celtics-Hawks playoff series. The Celtics were pathetic in that quarter, or maybe apathetic is a better word. They allowed 31 points, 54.5 percent shooting, and trailed by as many as 17 points. Since then, the Hawks have made just 35 percent of their shots in seven quarters, stifled by a Boston defense that has full respect for the opponent. And pay no mind to those barbs between Kevin Garnett and Ivan Johnson.

ATLANTA — First, the Flames. Now, the Thrashers. The struggling NHL franchise was sold yesterday to a group that will move it to Winnipeg next season, making Atlanta the first city in the league’s modern era to lose two teams. The Flames left for Calgary in 1980. The Thrashers are following them to Canada three decades later. “I want to thank all the Thrashers fans that supported us in Atlanta for my two years there,’’ tweeted Evander Kane, one of the team’s most promising young players.

The Atlanta Hawks are running out of players. The team learned Wednesday that forward Josh Smith has a strained tendon in his left knee, perhaps costing the Hawks another key player for their playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Smith is day-to-day and it's not known if he'll be able to go in Game 3 Friday night. While the injury doesn't sound as serious as some feared before he underwent an MRI, it's worth noting that Hawks center Zaza Pachulia is also considered day-to-day because of a sprained left foot — and he hasn't been on the court in nearly three weeks.

Mike Scott scored 18 points and No. 15 Virginia bounced back from a tough loss at Duke, blowing out Georgia Tech 70-38 on Thursday night. The Cavaliers (15-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) were never seriously challenged by the Yellow Jackets, who put up their lowest-scoring game since a 53-38 loss to Wake Forest on Feb. 6, 1982, during Bobby Cremins' first season as coach. Virginia was coming off a 61-58 defeat at Cameron Indoor Stadium that snapped a 12-game winning streak.

The Atlanta Hawks are running out of players. The team learned Wednesday that forward Josh Smith has a strained tendon in his left knee, perhaps costing the Hawks another key player for their playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Smith is day-to-day and it's not known if he'll be able to go in Game 3 Friday night. While the injury doesn't sound as serious as some feared before he underwent an MRI, it's worth noting that Hawks center Zaza Pachulia is also considered day-to-day because of a sprained left foot — and he hasn't been on the court...

As the Celtics drive into downtown Atlanta via Interstate 75 North this evening, they will pass a locally well-known So So Def Recordings billboard highlighted by the words, "Welcome to Atlanta. " But after that, the Celtics shouldn't expect any more southern hospitality. The Celtics will play their first road game of the postseason tomorrow night. Game 3 of their first-round series against the Hawks is at Philips Arena. The Celtics own a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Hawks will be playing their first home postseason game since 1999.

It's difficult to determine how to view the first quarter of Game 1 of the Celtics-Hawks playoff series. The Celtics were pathetic in that quarter, or maybe apathetic is a better word. They allowed 31 points, 54.5 percent shooting, and trailed by as many as 17 points. Since then, the Hawks have made just 35 percent of their shots in seven quarters, stifled by a Boston defense that has full respect for the opponent. And pay no mind to those barbs between Kevin Garnett and Ivan Johnson.

Four years ago, Boston and Atlanta were in much different places when they met in the NBA playoffs. The Celtics, a champion in the making. The Hawks, a team on the rise. This time, they're in a similar situation: playing to stay together. The Celtics are possibly making a last stand with their aging Big Three — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The Hawks have a younger core but desperately need a long run in the playoffs to justify keeping all the important pieces intact, especially dynamic forward Josh Smith, who has one more year on his contract...

It has been replayed again and again. It might be the best "Saturday Night Live" skit of them all. Jon Lovitz, playing Mike Dukakis, debates Dana Carvey, playing George Bush. Listening to a particularly hideous Bush ramble, Lovitz looks into the camera and says, "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy!" That's how this Celtics-Hawks playoff series feels to me. I can't believe the Celtics ever lost to these guys. I can't believe the Hawks knotted the series in Atlanta. I can't believe the Celtics went into last night's game facing a "must-win.

ATLANTA - Was he serious? I'm not knocking it. There was something quite refreshing about seeing a 21st-century NBA player of stature sitting down for his postgame media session wearing a beige sweater, a bow tie, and a pair of those Clark Kent-ish glasses that I hear are all the rage. I guess it was the tie that knocked me out. Satch Sanders would have been proud. It just wasn't what I expected from Josh Smith. Maybe he lost a bet. Or maybe he has matured. The raw talent was always there.

ATLANTA - Given his team's experience from 2008 - when the heavily favored Celtics were pushed to near-extinction by the Hawks in the playoffs in the first season of the Big Three - Doc Rivers considers Atlanta not only a formidable opponent, but one that could potentially end the Big Three era with four strong games. The Celtics enter the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Hawks Sunday night at Philips Arena as the fourth seed; Atlanta is fifth. Boston could have potentially faced the Knicks, Magic, or 76ers in the first round.

Four years ago, Boston and Atlanta were in much different places when they met in the NBA playoffs. The Celtics, a champion in the making. The Hawks, a team on the rise. This time, they're in a similar situation: playing to stay together. The Celtics are possibly making a last stand with their aging Big Three — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The Hawks have a younger core but desperately need a long run in the playoffs to justify keeping all the important pieces intact, especially dynamic forward Josh Smith, who has one more year on his contract...

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff ATLANTA -- Well to no one's surprise Doc Rivers dropped his "probably" and turned it into a "certain" as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are out tonight to get rest. He said neither argued his decision and both are on the trip and participated in shootaround. With Saturday and Sunday off, the Celtics are going to be a fresh team going into the final week of the regular season. Sean Williams (pictured right) is expected to make his Celtics debut.

Joe Johnson scored 28 points and Willie Green carried the Hawks in the fourth quarter, leading Atlanta to a 100-90 victory over the Mike Woodson and the New York Knicks on Friday night. Green scored 15 of his 20 points in the final period, including a 3-pointer from the corner that stretched Atlanta's lead to 94-84. Woodson, who coached the Hawks from 2004-10, returned to Philips Arena for the first time as the Knicks interim coach. His team wasn't at full strength, forced to go without injured starters Amare Stoudemire (back)

David Lee scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket with 30 seconds remaining, and the Golden State Warriors answered a late comeback by Atlanta to beat the Hawks 85-82 on Wednesday night. The Warriors kept the lead until Zaza Pachulia scored on a follow-up shot after a miss by Teague with 52 seconds remaining for a 78-78 tie. Lee drove past Pachulia to score with 30 seconds remaining to give the lead back to Golden State. Donta Ellis had 24 points and eight assists, while Lee had 12 rebounds for a double-double.

ATLANTA — Atlanta Thrashers fans are planning to take advantage of possibly their last opportunity to demonstrate support for the NHL to remain in Atlanta. Thrashers fans are planning a rally before the team’s annual select-a-seat event for season ticket-holders at Philips Arena Saturday. Lisa Lewis, the fan club president, said yesterday she expects a “pretty big turnout’’ for a rally she said is being organized by fan Jimmy Parks. According to reports in Atlanta and Winnipeg, Thrashers owners are in negotiations with True North Sports and Entertainment, which would relocate the team to Winnipeg.