Celtics Suffer Second Straight Loss
The Boston Celtics were coming off a tough home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, dropping them out of the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They did not help themselves on Thursday, as they fell to the Atlanta Hawks on the road, 123-116. Paul Millsap led the way with 26 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23, helping the Hawks snap a mild two-game losing streak of their own. Rookie Taurean Prince had a night to remember with a career-high 20 points for Atlanta, who had lost nine of their past 11 games. The Hawks led by as many as 20 on the night, and moved a half game above the Milwaukee Bucks for fifth place in the East. Meanwhile, the Celtics dropped to a game and a half behind the Cavaliers for first in the East with just one week left in the season. Isaiah Thomas had 35 points in the Celtics second straight defeat after they won five of seven contests. Atlanta will move on to battle the top-seeded Cavs on Friday night.
Harvey Impresses in Return for Mets
Matt Harvey made his return to the mount on Thursday night for the New York Mets for the first time since July 4th, earning his first win since May 30th in a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Harvey missed the second half of last season following thoracic outlet surgery, ending the year with a record of 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA. The 28-year-old then struggled in five spring training starts, going 0-4 with a 5.89 ERA. Despite that, he came out quick, and allowed just three hits over 6.2 innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Matt Kemp's solo home run was the only blemish for Harvey on the night. At the plate, Travis d'Arnaud hit the go-ahead, two-run double, while Wilmer Flores added a two-run home run in the win. Jaime Garcia struggled in first start with Atlanta since being acquired from St. Louis, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings, but did become the Braves' first left-handed starter since September of 2015.
The Boston Celtics were coming off a tough home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, dropping them out of the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They did not help themselves on Thursday, as they fell to the Atlanta Hawks on the road, 123-116. Paul Millsap led the way with 26 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23, helping the Hawks snap a mild two-game losing streak of their own. Rookie Taurean Prince had a night to remember with a career-high 20 points for Atlanta, who had lost nine of their past 11 games. The Hawks led by as many as 20 on the night, and moved a half game above the Milwaukee Bucks for fifth place in the East. Meanwhile, the Celtics dropped to a game and a half behind the Cavaliers for first in the East with just one week left in the season. Isaiah Thomas had 35 points in the Celtics second straight defeat after they won five of seven contests. Atlanta will move on to battle the top-seeded Cavs on Friday night.
Harvey Impresses in Return for Mets
Matt Harvey made his return to the mount on Thursday night for the New York Mets for the first time since July 4th, earning his first win since May 30th in a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Harvey missed the second half of last season following thoracic outlet surgery, ending the year with a record of 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA. The 28-year-old then struggled in five spring training starts, going 0-4 with a 5.89 ERA. Despite that, he came out quick, and allowed just three hits over 6.2 innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Matt Kemp's solo home run was the only blemish for Harvey on the night. At the plate, Travis d'Arnaud hit the go-ahead, two-run double, while Wilmer Flores added a two-run home run in the win. Jaime Garcia struggled in first start with Atlanta since being acquired from St. Louis, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings, but did become the Braves' first left-handed starter since September of 2015.
