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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cameron Tabatabaie

Porzingis scores 31, leads Celtics over Hawks 125-117

Celtics Hawks Atlanta (Organization) Boston (Organization) Kristaps Porzingis Xavier Tillman Atlanta Hawks The Celtics Wire NBA the Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics were able to cool off the red-hot Atlanta Hawks, earning a 125-117 victory at TD Garden Wednesday night. Kristaps Porzingis led the way for the Celtics with 31 points, propelling Boston to a 39-12 record for the season overall.

Earlier in the day, the Celtics swung a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, landing big man Xavier Tillman. Prior to tip-off, the deal was made official, but Tillman did not suit up to face the Hawks. Instead, the task of putting Atlanta to bed fell on his new teammates, who were more than up to the task. In total, six Celtics scored 10 points or more.

Let’s take a closer look at a 125-117 win for Boston over the visiting Hawks.

Boston offense

Porzingis was consistently the most effective Celtic scoring the ball. He ended the game 13-for-19 from the field, and Atlanta struggled in containing the Latvian big man.

The rest of the Celtics found their moments to make an impact. Al Horford, for example, gave Boston a booth with 11 points in the second quarter. Later in the fourth, it was Derrick White who came alive. He canned 4 3-pointers in the final frame. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown also had stretches where they led the way offensively.

Porzingis may have scored the most points, but it was a balanced offensive effort for the Celtics. Boston’s scoring depth was on full display here.

Boston's defense

The Hawks are one of the hottest offenses in the NBA at the moment. In their last five, they’ve averaged a league-best 135.6 points per contest and have gone 4-1 in that time. Here against the Celtics, Atlanta was locked and loaded scoring the ball, and for much of the game, Boston was without answers.

The Hawks were especially good shooting from 3, but this waned over the course of the game. Boston tightened up their perimeter defense, and while Atlanta continued to hit open looks, these were in much shorter supply.

As of late, the Celtics have been quite effective at closing the door on teams in the fourth quarter, and own the league’s best +/- in the final frame of games. The Hawks kept things interesting until the very end, but Boston’s ability to lock in on defense was enough to grab a win.

Looking ahead

With the win, the Celtics pick up their second victory in as many tries against the Hawks. They have a pair of road games remaining down in Atlanta at the end of March that will round out the season series.

For now, the Celtics are in the home stretch before the All-Star break. Their next match is this Friday at home against the Washington Wizards.

The NBA’s trade deadline is this Thursday, February 8. Will the roster look different between now and when the Wizards come to town?

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

More .Analysis

Woj: Boston Celtics trade wing Dalano Banton to Portland Trail Blazers for protected second round pick

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