Trae Young kept his promise to Dejounte Murray as he ensured the Atlanta Hawks lived to fight another day in the NBA Play-Offs. The point guard scored 38 points in his side’s 119-117 victory over the Boston Celtics team at the TD Garden.
The Celtics appeared to have the game in control having held a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter but Young thrives off the jeers of the opposition crowd, and he left home fans stunned with a dagger through their hearts by sinking a game-winning three pointer that will see the series head back to Atlanta.
Murray, who was suspended for the game after colliding with a referee at the end of game four, revealed a bold statement from his teammate. Watching from home, the 2022 NBA All-Star took to Instagram stories after Young’s pivotal final shot and said: “You a f**king killa boy!!!!!!! Trae Young told me be ready for Game 6 cause we going back to the A!!!!!!”
But Young saved his best for last as 16 of his 38 points were scored in a frenetic fourth quarter, while his teammates collectively scored 19 three-pointers, the best of the series so far. Post-game, never short of confidence, Young, who scored the Hawks' last 14 points told reporters about his conversation with Murray and keeping his promise.
"I FaceTimed him as soon as I got in the locker room," Young said. "I told him 'Be ready.' I told him before the game that we were going to take care of business so he can play in Atlanta." Prior to his incredible final shot, Young was given all the motivation he needed to take the shot to save his team’s season in the team huddle. “I just had to trust in what I’ve done my whole life and shoot it with confidence," Young said.
John Collins, who added 22 points, added: “I know what time it is. It’s Ice Trae time. He’s clutch. He wants to be in that moment. He wants the big shot. It’s what he does.” Despite being declared underdogs by many heading onto the game, Hawks coach Quin Snyder dismissed the idea. "We didn't talk about that," he said.
"We've been focused on ourselves, if we find things externally to be our source of motivation, I don't think you can win. So I understand it. People are making rational choices, but that doesn't mean we have to listen to them. We just have to compete, we just have to play." The Celtics still have the opportunity to close out the series in Atlanta tomorrow night, and they already secured a victory at the State Farm Arena in this series having clinching game four.
But they have been left to rue missed opportunity to win the series last night, something Jaylen Brown commented on after the game. "I guess you could say that," the Celtics guard said. "We made some bonehead plays, some fouls.
"We gave them some opportunities to get going. We've just got to finish the game. We let the game get away from us a little bit, and they just hit shot after shot down the line. When you give a team life, you give them a chance, and that's what we did."
