The Atlanta Hawks were riding a two-game winning-streak, entering Sunday’s match-up against the Eastern Conference-leading, Boston Celtics. The Celtics proved why they are the upper-echelon of the east in their first rematch with the Hawks since their first round match-up in last season’s NBA Playoffs. The C’s cruised to a 113-103 win at home, without guard, Jrue Holiday, and center/forward, Kristaps Porzingis.
Atlanta never led in this one, and trailed Boston by as many as 20 points. There were a couple times the Hawks inched close to the Celtics, like in the third quarter when they cut the lead to as little as six, but the Celtics withstood every punch the Hawks threw. Boston used a 16-4 run in the second quarter and paced a victory from there.
The tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown proved to be too much again for Atlanta. Tatum finished with a game-high 34 points, on 11-25 shooting overall (5-13/3PT), with 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. While Brown poured in 21 points and finished with 7 boards. Former-Hawk, Al Horford, was all over the court with his patented defense and hustle. He only finished with 6 points, but pulled down 15 boards, dished out 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. Derrick White finished with a game-high +29 +/- rating & 11 assists, even though he went 0-6 from three.
Surprisingly, Atlanta actually won the three-point battle but was dominated in the paint by Boston. Trae Young finished with his third 30-point game in his last four with 33, but had a tough time from the field going 12-27 overall and 6-16 from three. DeJounte Murray was essentially non-existent, finishing with 6 points on a dismal, 2-13 from the field and 0-6 from three.
The lone bright spot’s for the Hawks were from De’Andre Hunter & Bogdan Bogdanovic. Hunter turned in his third straight 20-point performance with 24 on the night, on an efficient 7-14 from the field (5-11/3PT). ‘Bogi’ was white-hot hitting seven three’s and going 8-12 overall from the field for 23 points. Unfortunately, the efforts of Hunter & Bogdanovic were not enough to overpower the Celtics.
Atlanta (8-8) will remain on the road for their fourth and final game of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, against the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night. The Hawks have already been eliminated from winning the group but can play spoiler to the Cavaliers and have an outside shot at one of the wildcard slots.
