Jayson Tatum showcased his scoring prowess with a 34-point performance, leading the injury-plagued Boston Celtics (13-4) to a 113-103 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks (8-8) on Sunday night.
Despite missing key players Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the Celtics displayed resilience with Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who contributed 21 points. Porzingis and Holiday, both sidelined with injuries, watched from the bench in street clothes.
Dalano Banton stepped up in the guard position, playing nearly 19 minutes and scoring eight points for the Celtics.
Derrick White added 15 points and 11 assists, while Sam Hauser and Al Horford made crucial contributions, scoring 12 and grabbing 15 rebounds, respectively.
The Hawks, led by Trae Young’s 33 points and seven assists, faced a Celtics team that never trailed throughout the game. De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 24 and 23 points, respectively, for Atlanta.
Jalen Johnson, who left the Hawks’ previous victory with a wrist injury, was diagnosed with a fractured left wrist after an MRI in Boston. He will be reevaluated in three-to-four weeks.
Boston established control early, holding a 14-point lead halfway through the final quarter. Despite a spirited 13-0 run by the Hawks, highlighted by Bogdanovic’s sharpshooting, the Celtics maintained their advantage.
