Hawks 123-122 Celtics (28 Mar, 2024) Game Recap،
ATLANTA — After touring the field in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics have the luxury of taking advantage of the home stretch of the regular season to prepare for the playoffs.
The Celtics now know they can't relax if they face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Dejounte Murray scored a career-high 44 points, including a green light jumper in the final second of overtime to propel the Hawks to a 123-122 victory over the Celtics on Thursday night.
Murray scored all 11 of Atlanta's points in the extra period to give the Hawks their second win over Boston in four days in the matchup between the teams currently holding the 1 and 10 seeds in the Eastern Conference.
“They’re a very good team,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Jaylen Brown made a go-ahead shot with 6 seconds left in overtime to give Boston a 122-121 lead. Murray responded with the jumper over Jrue Holiday. It was the defensive matchup Mazzulla expected.
“We want nothing more than Jrue Holiday versus Murray at that point in the game,” Mazzulla said.
Murray, who was considered questionable due to lower back pain before the game, celebrated green light jumper before being grabbed from behind in a bear hug by teammate Garrison Mathews.
“I’m built for those moments,” said Murray, who shot 18 for 44. “I’m a confident guy.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 24 points and De'Andre Hunter had 21 points and 13 rebounds as Atlanta won its fourth straight game to tie its longest streak of the season.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis scored 20 points and Brown 18.
Bogdanovic said he wasn't worried about Murray missing the game.
“He never gave up,” Bogdanovic said. “Never. Every time I see that he is doubtful, I tell myself that he is good. He is good.”
On Monday night, the Hawks trailed by 30 points before rallying for a 120-118 victory over the Celtics. It was Atlanta's biggest win since at least the 1997-98 season.
The Celtics have the best record in the NBA and have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the East.
Atlanta holds the final play-in spot in the East. The Hawks would face the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs if they make the play-in tournament with ninth or 10th place in the conference.
“We're not tanking,” Murray said when asked if he might miss the game because of his back pain. “We’re not trying to lose. We try to win games and see how far we can reach.
Boston forward Al Horford (sprained left big toe) did not play.
The Hawks have won four straight with a depleted roster. Forward Onyeka Okon gwu (sprained left big toe) missed his fourth consecutive game. The Hawks said forward Saddiq Bey, already ruled out for the season, underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn anterior crucial ligament in his left knee.
All-Star point guard Trae Young (finger) and forward Jalen Johnson (right ankle) have missed 17 and eight consecutive games, respectively. Young was cautioned for a technical foul from his position on the Atlanta bench in the second period following a 3-point basket by Murray.
A Hawks fan wearing a Hunter jersey made a half-court shot at halftime to win $10,000.
FOLLOWING
Celtics: Visit New Orleans on Saturday night in Game 5 of a six-game road trip.
Hawks: Host Milwaukee on Saturday night.
——
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
