The Atlanta Hawks are set to take on the best team in the league, the Boston Celtics, on Thursday night inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. They tip it off at 7:30 p.m. on a very light night in the league. There are two games slated, and this is one of them. Boston has a horrible taste in its mouth after blowing a 30-point lead to these same Hawks a couple of nights ago. 

Bookmaker has installed the Celtics as a heavy - 12.5 point favorite.

The Celtics have enjoyed a monster season and look like a team that can beat anyone on any night. They have the record to back it up, too. They have had one or two letdowns here and there, but it has not ruined their status as the best team in the Eastern Conference. 

They are running away with the Atlantic Division and lead the New York Knicks by 13 1/2 games as the season is coming to a close. They have one of the league's best 1-2 punches in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who have been playing at an MVP-type level.

Tatum is a player who can take over games at any moment. He averages close to 27 points a game while handing out just under five assists and pulling down 7.3 boards a night. Brown is a grinder, providing a significant advantage on both ends of the floor. He contributes around 23 points a game and provides an excellent physical presence inside the paint.

Boston had won nine before their recent meltdown against the Hawks. Look for them to take out their anger on them this time around and try to put them away early in this game. Brown and Tatum will push the pace and set the tempo. 

The Hawks have been such an inconsistent team that they are adamant about figuring it out. They were not the team that surprised the league a couple of years ago, but they are hanging around in the Eastern Conference and are within striking distance of that eight-playoff spot. 

Atlanta could be a better team on the defensive side, and they have had issues guarding the team's best players, so they will have their hands full with the Celtics' top players and scorers. Look for the Hawks to get the ball into the hands of 

Dejounte Murray, averaging around 22 a night, will have to pick up the slack in Trae Young's place. Young is not yet set to return from a finger issue. Murray is battling a low back injury and might not be available, either. But if he goes as we mentioned, he will have to take on the bulk of the offense and get them going early. 

This is a tough contest for the Hawks, who come into this game very banged up and hurt. Plus, Boston is looking for revenge for blowing that game the other night. 

Boston is 4-1 in its last five games and 3-2 in their previous five games against the spread. They are 18-16 in their road games against the number, and the totals have gone over in four out of their last five games and 17 out of their last 35 games at home. The Hawks are 3-2 in their previous five games and 3-2 in their last five games against the number. They are also 12-24 in their road games against the spread. The totals have gone over in four out of their last five games.