Atlanta will try to duplicate two prior efforts at Phillips Arena and have this not be their closing time. “We’re very confident,” said guard Joe Johnson, who is averaging 21.8 points in the series. “We’re 2-0 at home. We’ve been playing some pretty good basketball here. We’ve just got to continue that.” Continue they must, playing before rare sellouts at home; the youthful Hawks are feeding off the frenzied crowd. Atlanta has raised home record to 27-16 and 23-20 ATS, including 7-5 against the spread as home underdog.

Boston is an eight-point favorite at Sportsbook.com, with total of 189 and wants to finish off the scrappy Hawks. The Celtics are 25-12 ATS when the total is between 180 and 189.5 points this season and bankroll building 14-2 ATS off a home blowout win by 20 points or more this season. Coach Doc Rivers directed the early offense thru Paul Pierce and he responded with 22 points and six assists. The defensive intensity was also on display as Boston held Atlanta at bay after building early lead.

 

“The execution was as crisp and as sound as we’ve had in a month, and the defense was terrific,” Rivers said. “We were trapping, smothering and we didn’t make a lot of adjustments. We just did what we should do, and we did it well.”

ESPN will telecast this conflict starting at 8 Eastern with Celtics 32-13 ATS versus teams with winning home record.

One hour earlier on ESPN 2, Washington will try to avoid being closed out by Washington for a second time, with this one holding home court advantage. The hard fought one point win as 5-point road underdogs proved the Wizards what can happen when they keep quiet and just play basketball. “We just said, ‘It’s time to stop all the talking.’ A lot of guys were trying to defend themselves as far as this and that. But it wasn’t working,” Antwan Jamison said the day before Game 6. “We said: ‘The ultimate change around is for us to just be quiet and find a way to come back from 3-1 and win the series.’ I think they finally got it.” Washington is 27-16 ATS after playing on the road in 2008.

With Gilbert Arenas officially down this season, maybe Cleveland let up just a touch and Caron Butler stepped up his game put the Cavs in agony. Butler had averaged 15.5 points in the series, torched Cavaliers defenders for 32 points in Game five. Cleveland is 17-7 ATS in road games after a game where they failed to cover the spread this season and proved once again how slim their margin of error is when they don’t play their best. Maybe coach Mike Anderson’s team is better positioned as underdog, catching the four points for Friday night. The Cavs are 13-6 ATS as playoff pooches and are attempting again to close out the Wizards.

It’s hard to fathom one player that is not a superstar could have such an impact on a series, but that is exactly the case for Houston heading back to Utah. That is what has happened since point guard Rafer Alston returned to the Rockets lineup. Alston return has meant two wins in three games and three covers for Houston backers. For a team that won 22 games during the regular season, winning three in a row, even in the playoffs seems very doable.  “We’ve stayed confident. When we were down 3-1, we were confident. We never lose our confidence. We feel that we can win in that building,” Tracy McGrady said. The Rockets will look to improve to 14-4 ATS after a blowout win by 15 points or more this season.

Even with Utah’s Game three home loss to Houston, the Jazz are still 38-5 and 28-14-1 against the number. Utah’s confidence could best be described as teetering. They’re just playing better and better every game. That’s where we’ve got to be concerned,” guard Deron Williams said.

 

“After those first two losses, it seems like they’re a different team—a more determined team.” The Jazz are known for offensive execution, but are 58-for-146 shooting over the past two games, making only two of 23 three-pointers. “We have home-court advantage right now and we don’t want to lose it. We need to treat it really like Game 7,” Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko said.

This game is scheduled for 10:30 Eastern on ESPN, with Utah 9-0 AT in home games after failing to cover three of their last four against the spread.

Closing time can sure be nerve-racking.