All streaks should come to an finish… simply not tonight.
The Boston Celtics entered this matchup having gained six straight common season matchups towards the Atlanta Hawks, and that quantity prolonged to seven following their win on Wednesday night time.
The Celtics instantly went mismatch looking for Kristaps Porzingis with Clint Capela sidelined, because the 7’3 unicorn boasted a major measurement benefit over Onyeka Okongwu and the remainder of Atlanta’s beginning 5.
Tatum proceeded to select aside the Hawks as Boston’s main playmaker, racking up a pair of dimes and a pleasant transition hockey help within the first couple minutes. Potential Celtics commerce goal Saddiq Bey continued his development of performing nicely in TD Backyard, racking up seven fast factors to jumpstart Atlanta’s offense. He completed the quarter in double digits.
Joe Mazzulla opted for a double-big lineup that includes Porzingis and Luke Kornet midway by way of the primary, which noticed combined outcomes towards a smaller Atlanta squad. The Cookies and Cream duo paced Boston’s offense, as Jaylen Brown completed the quarter with 8 and Porzingis racked up 10.
Tatum opened his scoring with simply over two minutes left within the first quarter on a midrange fadeaway adopted by a bodily drive that resulted in free throws. A pair possessions later, the famous person hit a pull-up three.
The Celtics’ tempo was a bit slower than standard and the threes weren’t falling at their typical clip — simply 2-9 from lengthy vary — which resulted in a 37-35 lead for Atlanta on the finish of the primary.
Followers had been handled to a uncommon Al Horford takeover to start out the second quarter, as the large man scooped and scored off a Trae Younger turnover, adopted by a catch-and-shoot triple. The 37-year-old hit one other three a pair minutes later to bump his level complete as much as 11 early.
The Hawks gave Boston comparatively constant issues within the pick-and-roll, which resulted in far too many attractiveness for Mazzulla’s liking.
Oshae Brissett introduced his trademarked vitality and aggressiveness on the boards in a quick stint, making his case to stay in Boston’s rotation on the eve of the NBA commerce deadline.
Bey continued to torch the Cs in a myriad of strategies, whereas Brown responded with a mini-run of his personal to maintain the rating tight. The sport actually opened up within the ultimate minutes of the primary half as each squads ran the ground on nearly each possession, leading to a slim 71-67 lead for the Celtics. On Boston’s aspect, Horford, Porzingis and Brown had all racked up not less than 14 factors, whereas Atlanta’s personal trio of Younger, Bey and Okongwu discovered themselves in double-digits on the break.
The opening minutes of the second half had been filled with sloppy basketball and missed photographs on each side, however back-to-back thunderous alley-oops from Porzingis and Okongwu awoke the 2 sides.
This recreation appeared to fluctuate between two extremes: mundane inefficiency and All-Star Recreation highlights in transition.
Horford reinvigorated the group with a terrific hustle play to arrange a Payton Pritchard three on the opposite finish of the ground. Porzingis rattled off a collection of buckets in fast succession, together with one other monstrous jam over Okongwu, who made a enterprise determination and watched from the ground.
Nonetheless, Atlanta managed to remain inside placing distance because of Boston’s poor three-point capturing, because the Cs held onto a 95-90 lead on the finish of the quarter.
The Celtics opened up the fourth with a string of powerful defensive stops, which allowed them to open up their largest lead of the sport. Unsurprisingly, loads of that went by way of Derrick White, who continues to point out up when known as upon. The versatile guard hit three triples within the first 4 minutes to push Boston’s result in 11.
Luke Kornet gave his squad sturdy minutes all through the primary half of the ultimate quarter on each ends of the courtroom, permitting Boston to increase the lead with out their high scorer on the ground. When Kristaps did lastly examine again in, he instantly picked up the place he left off with a bucket.
Like we’ve seen fairly regularly on the Backyard this season, Boston’s late-game execution as soon as once more proved to be the distinction. An 8-0 Hawks run immediately introduced them inside 5 factors, however Porzingis capped off a terrific efficiency with a dagger three to place this one out of attain.
Kristaps led all scorers with 31 factors, whereas White poured in 21 and Tatum hit 20. Horford put collectively a implausible all-around night time with 14 factors, eight rebounds, eight assists, 4 blocks and two steals.
Subsequent up, the Celtics host the Washington Wizards on Friday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET.