The Boston Celtics started their Friday night home matchup against the Atlanta Hawks showing just how little they respected the league’s worst team in terms of record.
The then-7-27 Hawks jumped out to an 18-point lead with Boston not bothering to put up much a fight early, and kept a double-digit lead until the ten-minute mark of the second quarter, very little in the way of defense being played by either team.
It also didn’t help the Celtics went 6-of-25 from deep.
The game would stay close until the game’s final seconds, and ended with a last-second Daniel Theis block of a Trae Young 3-pointer followed by a foul called against Young as guard Marcus Smart stepped over and tripped on the Oklahoma product.
The odd moment, which nearly erupted into a fight as Smart had words with center Alex Len, instead sent the Texan to the line to secure the 109-106 win from the charity stripe.
Starting point guard Kemba Walker missed the contest due to flu-like symptoms, but shooting guard Jaylen Brown kept the game from getting out of hand with key buckets at several points of the game, finishing with 24 points and 10 rebounds on 8-of-13 shooting.
Forward Gordon Hayward logged 18 points and 6 rebounds on the evening, and Smart — who started in Walker’s stead — recorded 15 points, 6 boards and 9 assists.
Reserve center Enes Kanter continued his strong play off the bench, putting up 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, while swingman Jayson Tatum had an off shooting night, going 2-of-16 for 13 points and 9 rebounds.
Atlanta was led by Young’s 28-point, 5-board, 10-assist night, with Kevin Huerter adding 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists while forward John Collins scored 16 points and 8 boards before leaving the game in the third frame after a mid-air collision with Tatum.
The Boston Celtics next face the Chicago Bulls at United Center tomorrow, January 4 at 8pm ET.
