Hawks vs. Celtics, 2016 NBA playoffs: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch Game 4 online

The Celtics needed to show some signs of life following two losses in Atlanta. They definitely did that in Game 3 by dropping 111 points on one of the best defenses in the league en route to a win. They can now tie the series with another victory at home on Sunday.

Isaiah Thomas played like the All-Star he is, finishing with 42 points on just 24 shots to fuel Boston's offense, but the story of the game were the adjustments coach Brad Stevens made. He decided to have Evan Turner and Jonas Jerebko start, relegating Marcus Smart and Jared Sullinger to bench roles. It definitely worked. The two new starters finished with the highest plus-minus on the team and did a little bit of everything to complement Thomas' scoring.

Now that Stevens found something that works, he will likely stick to it. His options have been limited by injuries to Kelly Olynyk and Avery Bradley, but the depth of the roster has allowed the Celtics to survive those absences and stretch the series. The longer it goes, the better the chances of having Olynyk back. If they advance to the second round, Bradley could be back as well.

That's one of the reasons why Game 4 is so important for the Hawks. A win would put them up 3-1, with Game 5 to be held in Atlanta. The Celtics are vulnerable right now, playing unfamiliar lineups and dealing with health issues. If they beat them in Boston, they could be delivering a tough blow while putting themselves in perfect position to close the series out.

To do that, they will need Al Horford and Paul Millsap to once again dominate their matchups. The two big men had a down game on Friday, finishing with a combined 16 points. The Hawks need more from them on offense even when the guards are having good performances. They are the two best bigs in the series and have to play like it. If they do, Atlanta should be able to take a commanding lead heading back home.