Boston concluded its four-game road trip in Atlanta Monday night. The Celtics swept the 2-game mini series in Charlotte over the weekend and currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference at seven wins and a single loss. For the Hawks, they came into the game 3-4 off the back of an impressive road win 126-111 in New Orleans, but it has been an injury-riddled, up-and-down start to the season for Atlanta who currently lie seventh in the East.
The Hawks would come into the game decimated by injuries with six players listed as injured or out. Boston was itself missing Jaylen Brown once more with a left hip flexor strain. In his place, Neemias Queta started for the Celtics. A Jrue Holiday alley-oop to Queta was the perfect start for the big man who also displayed his post-game early to get his second bucket off a jump hook.
For the Hawks, they were looking to push early and get inside the painted area as both teams kept things locked in an entertaining start to the game. Jayson Tatum was perfect from deep to start the contest as coach Quin Snyder was forced to call his first timeout, following an Al Horford three-point block on Johnson followed by a quick heat check three from Tatum.
The Hawks’ Aussie wing Dyson Daniels was getting downhill and onto his preferred right hand at ease and led the Hawks with 8 quick points to start the game. Trae Young who paces the young Hawks team with an 27 points, 11.7 assists and 5 rebounds per game to start this season finished the quarter with just 2 points.
Payton Pritchard was inserted for just 42 seconds before hitting his first two buckets and yielding yet another ATL timeout. The Celtic’s bench of Kornet, Pritchard, Jordan Walsh and Sam Hauser all closed the quarter alongside Jayson Tatum who would finish with 16 points in 12 minutes, at the quarter close, it would be 35-30 Boston up.
Atlanta continued to penetrate inside at ease to start the second quarter, with Jalen Johnson scoring on his first two paint touches. An Okungwu alley-oop dunk from a deft Johnson pass saw the bouncey Hawks take the lead with 8 minutes to go in the 2nd.
Boston not to be outdone, then went on it’s own 10-0 run, importantly with Jayson Tatum on the bench. The run was fueled behind a Pritchard deep three, Hauser’s up-and-under reverse, a Jrue three-pointer and then a Jrue creep out lay-in. Jayson Tatum then returned into game at the 6:42 mark before rocking Trae Young to sleep with an impressive side step crossover dribble and a step-back three to his right. Following a broken play for the Hawks, Derrick White spied Tatum in the corner for his 22nd point and his sixth first half three.
The first half closed 72-53, and Jayson Tatum was the story line with a spectacular 26 first half points, Derrick White had 14 whilst Prichard and Jrue Holiday each chipped in 12 points. For Atlanta, Trae Young was ice cold with just 2 points, on 1-9 shooting, the Hawks would rely heavily on Jalen Johnson with 16 points, Daniels and Okungwu both finished the half with 8 points.
The third quarter saw Boston rolling as veteran Al Horford got in on the scoring act, firstly nailing a triple and then converting on a schoolyard reverse, on an up and under the basket layin. Not to be outdone, the Boston bench was on it’s feet behind a Neemis Queta tip-jam and then a two-handed power dunk as Boston creeped it’s lead out to a whopping 32 points.
Boston continued to pile on points and had tallied 100 points with a minute to go in the third. The quarter would end Boston in charge 103-75, good for an unassailable 28-point road lead.
The Celtics stay ready crew, would feature heavily in the final quarter, as Joe Mazzulla looked to close the road trip out with a complete team effort. Boston’s bench crew would keep the scoreboard ticking behind Jaden Springer, Walsh, JD Davison and rookie Baylor Scheierman to close things out in Atlanta.
Jayson Tatum lead the team with 28 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds, Pritchard was also on top of his game from the bench with 18 points and 4 triples, Derrick White was consistent all game with 21 points and Jrue Holiday added 16 points of his own.
Boston next square up against Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors in a grudge match, as Boston returns home for a 7:30 tip off on Wednesday.
