After getting a much-needed victory against the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday, the Celtics got another tonight, beating the Hawks 134-125. Jayson Tatum led the team with 34 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists, as he hopes to have a strong March and get back in the MVP conversation. Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Malcolm Brogdon (18 points and 5 assists) and Derrick White (18 points and 7 assists) each had solid nights. The Celtics shot 48 percent from three and collected 34 assists.
After the Celtics went up by 15 in the 3rd quarter, the Hawks made a run at the end of the 3rd and into the 4th with their star, Trae Young, on the bench. They cut the deficit to five late in the final frame, but couldn’t get enough stops. Young led the team with 35 points and 13 assists, and Atlanta’s 13 offensive rebounds kept it competitive.
Tonight was the first of a six-game road trip. After Atlanta, the Celtics play four relatively easy opponents (Houston, Minnesota, Portland, and Utah), and the trip ends on March 21st against the Sacramento Kings. That game, along with a March 30th matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, are Boston’s only remaining playoff opponents this month. Translation: tonight began an important stretch where they could rally off some wins and smooth out the issues from their recent 2-4 stretch.
Both teams played with All-Star game defensive intensity at the start. The score was 25-22 by the 6:00 mark, as the Hawks hit their first six field goal attempts, but the Celtics weren’t too shabby either. They missed their first two shots, but connected on their next nine, which included five threes — two each from Smart and Tatum with one from Horford. There were 12 lead changes in the quarter and no fouls until the 5:41 mark.
The Hawks held a narrow 38-37 lead by the end of the 1st quarter after shooting 67 percent from the field and only missing two 2-point attempts. But the Celtics dominated the beginning of the 2nd quarter, going on an 18-2 run and taking a 57-42 lead. Malcolm Brogdon was the catalyst with 7 points and 3 assists. Atlanta cut it to 62-53 after De’Andre Hunter drained a three on Trey Young’s 10th first-half assist, and Boston responded with great sequence that led to a Tatum dunk:
Boston led 71-61 at the half. They shot 12-of-24 from deep and collected 18 assists. Tatum led the way with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Brogdon (11 points and 4 assists), Sam…
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