The Boston Celtics choked away Game 5 to the Atlanta Hawks in pretty epic fashion, ultimately falling 119-117. Trae Young and the Hawks outscored the Celtics 37-25 in the final quarter, extending Atlanta’s season and forcing the action back to Georgia.
By many measures this was a historic loss for Boston, and the Celtics were outscored 20-6 in crunch time. Given the team’s championship aspirations, this was a real hole in the boat for players, coaches, and fans. The mood after the loss was somber, though there were scantly signs of panic or worry. All-Star forward Jaylen Brown was particularly resolute in his postgame comments.
