BOSTON -- The Celtics catch a break. They get to face a Hawks team missing just two starters.
Atlanta will rest Al Horford and Kyle Korver for Wednesday’s game against Boston. The move comes one day after starters Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap sat out Tuesday’s blowout win over Philadelphia.
Horford and Korver will be inactive.
“I understand it,” Korver said. “I get the bigger picture but that’s just not in my nature. But I’m buying in like everything else we are doing.”
Horford, who had his first career triple-double Tuesday, said he agreed with Korver. It’s hard to sit but he understands.
“I’m trusting coach,” Horford said. “I’m putting my trust in him.”
Credit: Chris Vivlamore
Credit: Chris Vivlamore
The Hawks will start Teague, Carroll, Millsap, Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic against the Celtics. Sefolosha started in place of Carroll Tuesday.
The Hawks (30-8), winners of nine straight overall and nine straight on the road, can afford to rest players. They enter the game against the Celtics leading the Eastern Conference having won 23 of the past 25 games.
Coach Mike Budenholzer reiterated his stance that he is trying to keep his players healthy.
“Prioritizing player health is something that is important for every team and every organization,” Budenholzer said. “All of us are trying to find ways to keep players healthy and in a productive state of mind, a productive physical state. Sometimes you can be proactive and try to take care of things before they become a problem.”
The Hawks will have an off day Thursday before finishing the four road games in five nights Friday at Toronto and Saturday at Chicago.
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