High-Stakes Showdown: Hawks Edge Celtics in Potential Playoff Preview

Thursday night’s clash between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics at State Farm Arena felt like a tantalizing glimpse into a potential postseason matchup, with both teams delivering a riveting display of basketball prowess. In a nail-biting contest that could foreshadow a #1 vs. #8 showdown in the playoffs next month, the Hawks emerged victorious over the Celtics with a razor-thin margin, securing a thrilling 123-122 overtime win.

The game marked a significant milestone for Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla, who fielded his preferred starting lineup of Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis for the first time since March 7th, albeit in a previous loss against Denver.

Amidst the intense battle, the Celtics’ clutch-time performance came under scrutiny, particularly as they grappled with a narrow 102-101 lead with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. The game unfolded as a litmus test of Boston’s resilience, with White and Tatum delivering pivotal three-pointers to counter Atlanta’s offensive onslaught led by Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Despite valiant efforts, including a crucial putback by Tatum and a difficult mid-range pullup from Brown, the Celtics struggled to contain Atlanta’s relentless offensive rebounding, conceding 17 second-chance points and ultimately falling short in regulation.

In overtime, Dejounte Murray emerged as the game-changer for the Hawks, unleashing a barrage of scoring with three consecutive midrange jumpers over Porzingis and a clutch three-pointer, culminating in a career-high 44-point performance on 18-of-44 shooting.

Despite a valiant effort from the Celtics, highlighted by Tatum’s 31-point outing, contributions from White and Porzingis, and a gritty display from Brown, who notched 18 points, the night belonged to Murray and the Hawks.

As the Celtics conclude their rigorous six-game road trip with matchups against New Orleans on Saturday and Charlotte on Monday, the intensity and physicality of Thursday night’s encounter serve as a compelling preview of the playoff atmosphere looming on the horizon.