The Boston Celtics looked like they might have turned a corner in their win against the Portland Trail Blazers before they traveled to State Farm Arena to put that theory to the test against the Atlanta Hawks. And, despite an intense assault by the Hawks, the Celtics managed to get a much-needed 134-125 win while securing a spot in the play-in tournament in the process.
Atlanta kept it close early, with neither team playing much defense until Boston pulled away at the start of the second quarter, the Celtics holding the lead from then on despite a few runs from the Hawks, a scuffle between Trae Young (35 points, 13 assists) and Marcus Smart (11 points, 6 assists) resulting in double techs late in the fourth with Smart being ejected.
