The Celtics’ Kevin Garnett swoops in for a dunk during the first quarter of last night’s game against the Hawks in Atlanta.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

ATLANTA — Perhaps more than any other sport, home court is a decided advantage in basketball. The Celtics were attempting to defuse that theory last night at Philips Arena.

The Celts built a 31-10 record on the road during the regular season and came here this weekend determined to maintain those winnings ways in the playoffs. The team flew to town Friday afternoon, enjoyed a team dinner at its hotel and then prepared to build on a 3-0 series lead over the Hawks.

“I think we really get up for the road,” said Paul Pierce. “We come together a little bit more than we do at home because you have to. You have to have a lot more energy on the road and a better focus. That’s the reason we’re one of the better road teams.”

Besides elite talent, winning on the road requires a tougher mentality, and this Celtics team seems to own that quality in spades.

“When you have a group of veterans who are mentally tough and don’t give in to being on the road or fatigue or making excuses, you’re going to have a pretty successful group. We have a lot of that,” Pierce said.

Ray Allen smiled when asked about the Celtics’ success on the road.

“I played on a team last year [in Seattle] that didn’t like playing at home. Guys couldn’t wait to play on the road,” said Allen.

After prodding from the local press, Hawks fans nearly filled Philips Arena last night for the franchise’s first playoff game in nine years. Several thousand tickets remain available for tomorrow night’s Game Four. As is usual, when Boston hits the road, large pockets of the crowd last night was adorned in Celtic green.

Garnett knows his strengths

Kevin Garnett hit his first 3-pointer of the season (0-for-11) in Game Two. He knocked home the shot at the end of the 24-second clock, but he says he’s not about to take the long-range bombing duties away from Allen and Pierce.

“Not at all,” Garnett said with a smile. “There’s no way I give up that block down there for the 3-point shot. You can all have that 3-point shot.”

But Garnett will not purposely pass up an open 3-pointer.

“Unless it’s needed, [I won’t take it],” Garnett said. “I’ve never seen a shot I didn’t like, but I’m not oblivious to my strengths.”

Celtics remain healthy

The Celtics are in excellent physical shape considering that they’ve played through a long season. They realize that continued good health is a key for any team that’s poised to make a deep playoff run

“For going into the third playoff game, we’re a very healthy team. We have to keep that up,” said coach Doc Rivers.

The space in between playoff games helps ease the physical load on teams this time of the season. Paul Pierce, for example, went down hard in Game Two but his sore back was reported to be in strong shape after two full days of rest.

“We’re not a young team so in some ways it probably doesn’t hurt us but I would rather have the rhythm of playing. And clearly they’re tired of us,” said Rivers.

More bump and run

The Celtics and Hawks both expected last night’s game to be more physical than the first two. The series took a decided aggressive twist late in Boston’s Game Two win and the Hawks clearly don’t want to be run over in this series.

Atlanta coach Mike Woodson says he’s telling his team that aggressive play will be needed if the Hawks intend on pulling off a huge upset in the series.

“It’s going to be that way. They’re trying to win a championship,” he said, “but we’re telling our guys that if we get out of this series, you have an opportunity to get to the next series and win a title. Why am I telling that to our guys? Why not? We’re in the playoffs. Why not set your expectations and your goals high. Hey, they may not get this shot again ever in life.”

Woodson generous to staff

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported yesterday that Woodson bought 45 tickets for cleaning and support staff at Philips Arena. Woodson felt the workers deserved the night out after a long season. … Rivers was clearly disappointed that Sam Vincent was let go as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. “I’m flabbergasted that Sam’s not there. Guy’s been there one year with all the injuries they’ve had? I don’t get that,” he said. … Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played at Philips Arena on Friday night. The Celtics arrived in town in the late afternoon, and checking out the show was Scott Pollard. A noted heavy-metal fan, Pollard supposedly left the show after just a few songs.