Celtics end Hawks season with 4-2 series win in Atlanta

Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) scores against Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) and Atlanta Hawks' Dejounte Murray (5) during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

After letting the series go longer than it should have, Al Horford and the Boston Celtics were eager to finish off the Atlanta Hawks.

Horford made sure his former team didn’t force a Game 7.

The 36-year-old Horford hit a huge 3-pointer in a late run that carried the Celtics past the Hawks 128-120 Thursday night for a 4-2 triumph in the opening-round playoff series.