Atlanta — — boston celtics Two key members of the rotation were missing.
There was no shortage of players to fill the gaps.
Jalen Brown Leading a balanced offense with 22 points, the East-leading Celtics won 126-101 to extend their winning streak to eight. Atlanta Hawks on wednesday night.
Celtics were missing injured security guard Marcus Smart When Malcolm BrogdonIt hardly mattered.
led by brownthe Celtics made seven players into double figures. Jason Tatum 19, Grant Williams 18, Derrick White 16, Sam Hauser When Luke Cornette 15 each, and Peyton Pritchard 14.
White also recorded 10 assists, Cornette 7-of-7 from the field, and Hauser scored all in a 5-of-6 performance from 3-point range.
“We have a lot of guys who do a lot to win games,” White said. “We trust everyone on this roster and when they come in they do good things for us. We’re going to need them all.”
Hawks escaped big win in milwaukee And they are eager to show that they can challenge the best in the conference.
Not this night.
Boston took the lead in the first quarter. erased immediately By the stifling defense of the Celtics.
Trae Young Leading the Hawks with 27 points, they only shot 10/23, including just 2/7 from across the arc.
Shooting was a problem for the Hawks early in the season — a big change from their high-scoring offense a year ago.
“We think too much about it,” Young said. “It’s about going out and playing, playing freely and coming back to play with confidence.”
Even without two key members of the rotation, the Celtics shot 54.5% from the field and knocked down 21 3-pointers.
Since losing to Golden State in the NBA Finals last season, Boston’s backups have worked hard to make up for their poor bench performance and perceived lack of depth.
“A little fire,” Hauser said. “Everyone keeps it a little personal.”
The Hawks got a glimpse of what this game could look like in the first quarter. They connected on just eight of his 24 shots, missing all six of his attempts to cross his stripes by three points, and soon he was in the double-digit hole.
The Celtics led by as many as 16 points and trailed 62-53 at halftime before the Hawks switched to a deficit. However, Boston regained control in the third quarter and delivered a complete blow in the closing stages.
White VS Murray
Traded from San Antonio to the Celtics last February, White got his first chance to face his former teammate. Dejounte Murray.
The Hawks acquired Murray from the rebuilding Spurs in the summer. He scored 19 points against the Celtics.
“I love him so much,” White said. “I know he’s the ultimate competitor. I wanted to race him right away.”
tip in
Celtics: Brogdon missed four straight games with right hamstring injury, Smart out with right ankle inflammation. … Former Hawks C Al Horford Leading the Celtics with 11 rebounds.
Hawks: Young made his 294th career start and tied Paul Millsap for 17th on the franchise career list. … Atlanta was her second-lowest production for the period of the season, with him only 18 points in the first quarter. The Hawks scored just 17 points in the second quarter against Philadelphia on November 10.
next
Celtics: Friday night in New Orleans.
Hawks: Saturday night in Toronto.
——
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP–Sports
