It seems that the Atlanta Hawks have found a way to consistently outplay the Boston Celtics.
Atlanta’s guard, Dejounte Murray, sealed the deal with a last-second jump shot in overtime, securing a 123-122 victory over the Celtics on Thursday. This marks their second triumph against the team with the NBA’s best record in the same week.
Just days earlier, on Monday night, Atlanta orchestrated the largest comeback in Hawks history, overcoming a 30-point deficit to stun the Celtics, who have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
In a tightly contested match that extended into overtime, the Celtics believed victory was within their grasp when All-Star Jaylen Brown nailed a contested midrange shot, putting Boston ahead by one with just over six seconds remaining.
However, Murray rose to the occasion, facing off against renowned defender Jrue Holiday and sinking the game-winning basket with a mere 0.1 seconds left on the clock.
Murray’s performance in overtime was exceptional, as he single-handedly scored all 11 of the Hawks’ points in the extra period. He delivered a career-high 44 points alongside seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Despite his impressive scoring display, Murray’s shooting efficiency was not at its peak, converting 18 of his 44 field goal attempts, including 19 shots from beyond the arc. Nevertheless, Murray expressed a desire to have made an NBA legend proud with his offensive persistence.
Contributing to the victory, Bogdan Bogdanović added 24 points, while De’Andre Hunter, the hero from Monday’s game, contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds. Notably, Atlanta’s win is even more remarkable considering their extensive list of injuries, with star point guard Trae Young sidelined since late February, and several other key players unavailable.
With four consecutive wins under their belt, the Hawks are hitting their stride at a crucial juncture as the regular season nears its end and anticipation for the postseason intensifies.
Interestingly, these two victories over Boston could foreshadow a potential first-round playoff matchup.
Currently holding the 10th seed in the East with a 34-39 record, the Hawks are poised for a spot in the Play-In tournament. While they may need to navigate two elimination games to secure a postseason berth, success could set the stage for a showdown with the top-seeded Celtics in the first round.
Despite Boston’s firm grip on the No. 1 spot in the East, this loss marks another disappointing setback, failing to redeem themselves after Monday’s collapse.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla attributed his team’s defeat to Atlanta’s prowess on the offensive boards.
“That’s the game right there,” he said postgame. “They did a great job of crashing… there’s a few [rebounding situations] that we can get better at, but that to me is the game right there: offensive rebounds and second-chance points. I thought we played a hell of a game outside of that component.”
Jayson Tatum, a contender for the MVP title, led Boston with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, supported by double-digit scoring efforts from all five Celtics starters. However, their collective efforts fell short on this occasion.
With a record of 57-16, the Celtics will face the New Orleans Pelicans next on Saturday, while the Hawks will host the Milwaukee Bucks on the same night.
