The Atlanta Hawks pulled off an upset over the Boston Celtics, 117-116, to begin their road to the Emirates NBA Cup. Trae Young missed this game due to Achilles tendinitis, so Keaton Wallace started at point guard. He signed a two-way contract before the season but has seen a lot of minutes early in the season due to Atlanta’s guard injuries.
Despite the Hawks missing their conductor on offense, they came through in the fourth quarter, scoring 33 points to take home the victory. Onyeka Okongwu converted a game-winning tip-in with six seconds left to give Atlanta a 117-116 with six seconds left. After Boston turned the ball over on the in-bounds pass, the Hawks gave it right back. Suddenly, the Celtics had a chance to win the game on the final possession; however, Jaylen Brown, who had 37 points on the night, missed a fadeaway over Jalen Johnson, giving the Hawks an impressive win.
When the Celtics faced the Hawks on Nov. 4, Atlanta gave up an extended 31-9 run in the first half and never recovered. In this game, Boston put together a 12-2 run in the second quarter, taking a 65-54 lead into halftime; however, the Hawks’ confidence and game plan did not waiver. They outscored the defending champions 63-51 in the second half and put together a 15-point comeback, forcing the Celtics into 20 turnovers and outsourcing them 68-32 in the paint.
Atlanta got breakout performances from many players, but Dyson Daniels captured the main spotlight with a career-high 28 points (12-21 FG), seven assists, and six steals. He now has six or more steals in three straight games, becoming just the fourth player in NBA history to accomplish the feat. Daniels also held Jayson Tatum to 20 points on 5-16 shooting, delivering an elite performance on both ends of the ball. With Young sidelined, a lot of responsibility fell on Johnson to set up his teammates and get his shot. He came through with a triple-double of 18 points, 10 dimes, and 13 rebounds. The Hawks emphasized ball movement and quick decision-making, leading to 35 assists as a team.
All four of Atlanta’s frontcourt players came through with big performances. Clint Capela added 18 points and grabbed nine boards, Okongwu scored 15, and Larry Nance Jr. put up 19 points, including 5-6 shooting from deep. The Hawks were effective in the paint in many ways. They dominated the glass with 20 offensive rebounds compared to the Celtics’ six. Atlanta also looked to take advantage of Boston’s switch-heavy defense when Derrick White or Jrue Holiday found themselves covering Okongwu or Capela. The centers shot 8-11 and 7-11 from the field, respectively, converting a high percentage of their opportunities down low.
The Hawks will look to build off this victory and get another NBA Cup win when they face the Washington Wizards at State Farm Arena on Friday night.
