Hawks Triumph Over Celtics
The Atlanta Hawks clawed back from a previous defeat to the Boston Celtics by claiming a 117-106 win during Wednesday night’s matchup in Boston. Leading the Hawks’ charge was Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who netted 21 points. Jalen Johnson contributed significantly with a double-double, posting 19 points along with 14 rebounds. Also making an impact were Onyeka Okongwu with 17 points, Dyson Daniels who added 15, and Corey Kispert with 13 points, marking the Hawks’ fourth consecutive victory.
Celtics’ Struggles
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown was the top scorer with 21 points, yet struggled with his shooting, hitting only 9 of his 20 attempts and missing all five of his 3-point shots. The Celtics’ long-range shooting effort was notably poor, with a conversion rate of just 26.5%, sinking 9 of 34 from beyond the arc.
Offensive Efficiency
The Hawks demonstrated offensive efficiency, successfully landing 42.9% of their 3-point attempts (18 out of 42) and dishing out 29 assists on 45 total baskets. Prior to the game, Hawks coach Quin Snyder reflected on his team’s prior encounter with Boston—a significant 132-106 defeat at home—and emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences, stating,
“You want to feel it,”
which seemed to resonate with his players as they jumped to a 21-point lead thanks to a 3-pointer by Alexander-Walker in the first quarter.
Late Game Dynamics
Despite a late surge from the Celtics, who finished the first half strong with an 8-0 run, they never managed to close the gap to fewer than 12 points in the second half. With the game slipping further away, Coach Joe Mazzulla opted to pull most of his starters, and many fans began leaving the arena as the Celtics found themselves trailing 115-96 with just over four minutes left in the game.
Injury Report
Adding to Boston’s woes, Kristaps Porzingis, who was recently traded from the Celtics to the Hawks in an effort to enhance salary flexibility, was absent from the game due to left Achilles tendinitis and did not join the team on their trip.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to host the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, while the Celtics will face the Sacramento Kings at home on Friday night.
