© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dejounte Murray Sinks Celtics, Capping Poor Showing in Atlanta
On Thursday night at State Farm Arena, the Boston Celtics had their starting lineup intact for the first time since their 115-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Mar. 7.
Jrue Holiday returned from a five-game absence caused by a right AC joint sprain. Derrick White, the other half of Boston's backcourt, a.k.a. "The Stock Exchange," did not take part in Monday's 120-118 defeat as the C's blew a 30-point lead in the first of this two-tilt mini-series with the Atlanta Hawks.
The visitors went 1/15 from beyond the arc in the second half of that loss, cold shooting that extended into the start of Monday's matchup. They went 1/15 from three-point range in the opening frame.
They combatted that by repeatedly feeding Kristaps Porzingis, who registered 12 points, matching Dejounte Murray for the most in the first quarter. His production helped the Celtics manufacture 20 points from inside the paint.
The hosts matched that production. But while Boston's on-ball defense provided minimal resistance on drives, there was a clear intention to limit Atlanta's impact from behind the arc, especially after the Hawks buried 11/19 (57.9 percent) of their long-range attempts in the final 24 minutes of Monday's game.
Keeping the hosts to 2/8 from three-point range, with those stops helping fuel an 8-0 advantage in fast-break points, and the C's only committing one turnover were paramount to taking a 29-28 edge into the second frame.
The Celtics' on-ball defense remained a problem in the ensuing 12 minutes, as Atlanta generated 20 points in the paint for the second straight period. The Hawks also parlayed eight offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points.
However, they went 3/9 from behind the arc. Conversely, the visitors found their rhythm, knocking down 5/7 triples they hoisted.
Neither side was pleased with the officiating. That included when Jaylen Brown picked up a questionable third foul on a charge that, even upon Boston challenging the ruling, disregarded that Garrison Matthews was still moving his feet and did not get set in time.
Trae Young, who was in street clothes for Thursday's contest, received a technical in the second quarter. Bogdan Bogdanovic got one too.
Those technicals and increased aggression helped Jayson Tatum find his rhythm. The five-time All-Star produced 12 points, the most in the second frame, making 3/6 shots and faring 5/6 at the free-throw line.
There were also meaningful second-unit contributions that included Payton Pritchard applying full-court pressure that led to a turnover and a Luke Kornet dunk and the latter making his presence felt at the rim offensively, including working in tandem with Holiday, leading to a trip to the free-throw line, where he went 2/2 for his other two points in the first half.
That helped the visitors take a 63-59 edge into the break. Porzingis paced Boston with 17 points at intermission. Tatum provided 14. They were the only two players on the C's to reach double digits by halftime.
The intensity and physicality ratcheted up in the third quarter, but the Celtics paid for not making the Hawks uncomfortable. Led by De'Andre Hunter drilling 4/5 attempts, Atlanta buried 6/15 threes it hoisted, including five of its first ten.
But the visitors countered by converting on 4/8 triples, building a 13-0 advantage in fast-break scoring, and producing 12 points in the paint, including this poster from Jaylen Brown that helped Boston take a 90-89 lead into the final frame.
With the lead continuing to switch hands, changing over 30 times in the evening, like Monday's matchup, Thursday's came down to crunch time.
After Boston struggled to execute in the previous go-around, a prime example of its improvement in the final five minutes of another chance to get reps in a game within five points was on a HORNS set, meaning two players set up at the elbows.
The action featured multiple players touching the ball, activity from those who didn't have the rock, and working inside out, going from Brown nearly getting two points at the rim but deciding not to force it to a Derrick White three.
There was also Brown quickly pulling up off the dribble, knocking down a shot from 17 feet as Hunter made sure to avoid fouling him. That gave the Celtics a 112-109 edge with 40.1 seconds left.
But struggling to limit the Hawks to one shot per possession continued to plague them as Hunter elevated over White to retrieve Murray's missed three, kicking it out to Bogdanovic, who buried an open look from beyond the arc.
At the other end, too much dribbling from Tatum, with everyone else on the court standing around watching, resulted in a low-quality miss on an off-balance three, meaning it would take overtime to determine a winner.
But after Murray continued having success getting Porzingis matched up on him, twice scoring from the mid-range, the Celtics countered with a second-chance opportunity of their own.
And with Tatum finishing a layup through contact and then tacking on the extra point at the free-throw line, the visitors pulled within one, 116-115, with 3:44 remaining in the fifth frame.
As the two teams continued trading blows, timely stops, including Derrick White blocking Murray, later forcing a jump ball, and Brown playing suffocating defense against Atlanta's star guard, who had 42 points at the time, gave the Celtics a chance to take the lead with 13.9 seconds to go.
They took advantage, with Porzingis dishing to Brown, who got square, elevated, and swished a shot from 17 feet, putting Boston ahead 122-121 with 6.2 seconds left. That was the 40th lead change of the game.
But Murray, a problem all night, struck back, burying a mid-range fadeaway with Holiday draped on his side. That gave the hosts a 123-122 lead with 0.1 seconds on the game clock. White, inbounding, unintentionally made Boston's desperation attempt on a sideline inbound, sealing the C's fate.
The visitors gave up 60 points in the paint and 28 on second chances in a loss that capped a disappointing stay in The Peach State.
The Celtics are now on to New Orleans, where they'll face the Pelicans on Saturday night. That matchup will tip off at 5:00 EST.
Further Reading
Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'
Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'
Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
