The split in the crowd was unmistakable.

The Hawks knew it, too.

For all the fans that showed up in red, white or blue to watch the Hawks lose to Boston at Philips Arena two weeks ago, there seemed to be nearly as many wearing Celtics green.

But for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference playoff series tonight, the Hawks are counting on the home crowd showing up for the "home" team.

"We need our fans like Boston needed their fans up there [in Boston]," Josh Smith said. "The intensity their fans brought up there was crazy. We need that type of support. And it can't be half Celtics and half Hawks like it was two weeks ago."

The fact that the Hawks are playing their first home playoff game since 1999 should aid that cause.

"We need it electric out there for us and not them," Hawks captain Joe Johnson said. "That would definitely help us out. And we need it packed in here."

The Hawks have sold 18,000 tickets and are expecting a sellout for Saturday's game, Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said Friday. Three-thousand tickets remain for Monday's Game 4.

If history is an indication, packing a pro-Hawks crowd into the arena will be a tough task. Celtics coach and former Hawks point guard Doc Rivers has experienced the bizarre scene of a Hawks-Celtics playoff game here.

"If it was like when we played the Celtics," Rivers told the Boston Globe, "I expect a lot of Celtics fans there because that's how it was."

Woodson purchases tickets for cleaning crew

Hawks coach Mike Woodson is responsible for at least 45 of those 18,000 tickets sold for Saturday night's game.

Woodson purchased 45 tickets for members of the Philips Arena cleaning and support staff, folks he said should be front and center tonight with the franchise finally back in the playoff spotlight.

"I just think that when you talk about building a team it has to include everybody," Woodson said. "And this is something special. I appreciate the people that probably don't ever get to see a game. I appreciate what they do around this arena, especially at playoff time.

"They work here; they go home and come back and work. They do a yeoman's job and that means a great deal to me. And it's something that I think needed to be done to show appreciation for the contributions made by so many people who never receive the proper credit."

Traffic, construction a concern around Phillips

The Hawks are warning fans attending tonight's game to plan accordingly to deal with the traffic congestion caused by the resurfacing project on the Downtown Connector.

The Hawks are also reminding fans that the MARTA station is conveniently located adjacent to Philips Arena. Alternate route information is available on hawks.com and is distributed at the parking decks and the arena's Guest Services Center and concierge desks.