Since a defeat in Denver on March 7, head coach Joe Mazzulla had not used his ideal starting lineup of Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis.
The Celtics’ clutch play has garnered a lot of attention this week, and with just over five minutes remaining, they led 102-101, making it clear that this game would be another test of Boston’s will. Following an Atlanta four-point lead, White and Tatum responded with consecutive three-pointers. After two failed attempts at free throws by De’Andre Hunter, Brown made a challenging mid-range pullup, and Bogdan Bogdanovic answered with a powerful three of his own. After an offensive rebound, Bogdanovic made another massive 3-pointer to tie the game.
The playoffs haven’t started yet, but it sure felt like a potential postseason preview in State Farm Arena on Thursday night. In what could potentially be a #1 vs. #8 matchup next month, the Celtics lost to the Hawks 123-122 in overtime.
And in what has been a point of contention with fans, Tatum opted to isolate with the final possession of regulation and missed a fade away jumper to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, Dejounte Murray hit three straight middies over Porzingis and another from behind the arc, en route to a career high 44 points on 18-of-44 shooting.
With the game on the line, it was Brown with the potential game-winning shot. Here’s Tom Haberstroh on why that might have been the right decision.
Tatum finished with 31, White and Porzingis chipped in with 22 and 20 respectively, and Brown, the hometown kid, had 18 in the physical loss.
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