John Bazemore/AP
The Hawks rallied from 30 factors all the way down to stun Boston.
CNN
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Main by 30 factors earlier than the tip of the second quarter on Monday, the Boston Celtics seemed set to enhance their NBA-best document and lengthen their successful streak to 10 video games in a row.
The Atlanta Hawks, nonetheless, had different concepts.
Regardless of trailing 68-38 with simply over 4 minutes to go till halftime, the Hawks erased the 30-point deficit and soared to a stunning 120-118 victory over the Celtics.
Per the NBA, the beautiful upset was the most important comeback in Hawks historical past (since information was first tracked within the 1997/98 season) and the biggest comeback within the NBA this season.
“Any time you’re down that a lot, it’s important to have one thing out of the peculiar to get again within the sport,” stated Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “And when you could have a bunch of individuals you already know who’re behind you, thick or skinny, rain or shine – and there was plenty of rain early – they had been a giant a part of serving to the solar come out tonight.”
Atlanta followers had been compelled to endure a nervy second within the closing seconds of the sport, when Hawks ahead De’Andre Hunter acquired the ball outdoors the three-point line after Clint Capela had efficiently grabbed the offensive rebound.
With Atlanta main by one level with solely 11 seconds to go, all basketball protocol and training dictates that Hunter ought to have held on to the ball and waited to be fouled by the Celtics with a purpose to keep away from giving possession again with time nonetheless left on the clock. As a substitute, Hunter let fly from three-point vary and drilled the triple to seal the win, a lot to the reduction of Hawks followers and his teammates.
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Hunter shoots the three with 11 seconds left on the clock.
“If he passes it to me, I’m capturing,” Hunter stated postgame, explaining the state of affairs. “He received the rebound, he handed it to me, so I shot it.”
Snyder had no points with Hunter’s resolution.
“He didn’t hesitate,” he stated. “He shot the ball with confidence, and I had confidence in him.”
The comeback victory was made all of the extra spectacular by the truth that the Hawks had been with out All-Star level guard Trae Younger, in addition to rising star Jalen Johnson.
All 5 Hawks starters scored in double figures, with Hunter main the best way with 24 factors. Bogdan Bogdanović scored 22 whereas Dejounte Murray had 19 factors and 15 assists.
Whereas the win elicited smiles and pleasure for Atlanta, it was embarrassment for Boston, which suffered a regarding loss to a workforce which sits 9 spots behind the Celtics within the Japanese Convention standings because the common season heads in the direction of its conclusion.
After securing the No. 1 seed within the East and homecourt benefit all through the playoffs, complacency appeared to set in for the Celtics on Monday because the Hawks went on an 18-6 run to shut the primary half after which a 19-4 run to chop Boston’s result in solely two factors 4 minutes into the third quarter.
“We let our foot off the fuel within the second half, and so they received in an important rhythm. We turned the ball over just a little bit after which it grew to become a ball sport,” stated Celtics star Jayson Tatum after the sport.
“It’s a troublesome tablet to swallow.”
Tatum led Boston with 37 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists on the evening; within the absence of each Jrue Vacation and Derrick White, Tatum was unusually listed because the workforce’s place to begin guard.
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It was a really disappointing evening for Tatum and the Celtics.
The Celtics drop to 57-15 on the season however nonetheless personal the league’s finest document heading in the direction of the postseason. The Hawks, in the meantime, enhance to 32-39 and stay within the combat for a spot within the Play-In match.
Boston may have an opportunity at redemption on Thursday when the 2 sides conflict once more, although Atlanta is scheduled to tackle the Portland Path Blazers at house on Wednesday.