The Celtics maintained a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter of Game 5 against the Hawks, but that margin came crashing down in crunch time.
With Atlanta on the brink of elimination, Trae Young delivered a masterful performance, torching Boston for 38 points, including a go-ahead three pointer at the top of the key inside TD Garden to complete the 119–117 come-from-behind victory to force a Game 6.
Instead of the Celtics ending the series and preparing to face the 76ers in the second round of the NBA playoffs, Young dropped 16 in the fourth quarter in a performance that sent social media into a frenzy.
What a massive choke job by the Celtics. Trae Young going off, why didn't Joe Mazzulla have the Celtics send two at him? Where was Malcolm Brogdon? Mazzulla watched that collapse and did nothing.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 26, 2023
Just horrific coaching. I want to throw up.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 26, 2023
Trae Young to all the haters pic.twitter.com/LTt4VtLfF4
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 26, 2023
Trae Young in the 4th quarter: pic.twitter.com/JNY8pLYTM1
— Bookmakers Review (@BMRReviews) April 26, 2023
Of the “F Trae Young” chants the TD Garden crowd gave him in the second half tonight, Young (rocking an excellent hoodie, by the way) said:
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) April 26, 2023
“When people do that, I think that’s total respect. They ain’t doing it to everybody.” pic.twitter.com/8Qx4zhXRWV
“Trae Young and John Collins won 2 games against the Celtics but KD and Kyrie got swept” pic.twitter.com/oqQvgKAVIa
— De🅿️ressed Warriors Fan 🏆 (@GoIdenState) April 26, 2023
After Tuesday’s win, Young has a total of 60 fourth-quarter points in the series. That is the most through the first five games of a series since Kevin Durant in 2011, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
Young also recorded his fourth career playoff game with 35 points or more and 10 or more assists, tying Oscar Robertson for the most in NBA playoff history at age 24 or younger. After the loss, the Celtics will hope for a bounce-back game after what was a stunning loss at the hands of the Hawks star.
