The Boston Celtics cruised past the Atlanta Hawks with a 123-93 blowout win on Monday night, improving their season record to 7-1. Jayson Tatum led Boston’s offense with 28 points, scoring 26 of them in the first half to set the tone early.
Tatum also recorded nine assists and six rebounds in a productive 30 minutes before resting the fourth quarter, as the Celtics had established a commanding lead. The team secured its third straight win, closing out a successful four-game road trip with a 3-1 record.
The Hawks, now 3-5, struggled to keep pace with Boston’s hot shooting, especially from beyond the arc. The Celtics hit 18 three-pointers, including 15 in the first half, compared to Atlanta’s six. Boston’s 54-18 advantage in points from three-point range highlighted their offensive dominance.
Hawks guard Trae Young endured a rough night, scoring just two points on 1-for-10 shooting. His night ended early due to a right rib strain, and he exited in the third quarter after recording six assists. Jalen Johnson was a bright spot for Atlanta, tallying 20 points and 11 rebounds, but the Hawks could not overcome their early deficit.
Derrick White contributed 21 points and six assists for Boston, hitting four threes in the process. Payton Pritchard added a spark off the bench, scoring 18 points in 25 minutes.
Boston pulled away in the second quarter, ending it with a 19-4 run that turned a seven-point advantage into a 22-point lead. Tatum and White each scored seven points during this stretch, establishing a cushion that Atlanta could not bridge.
The Celtics extended their winning streak to 16 games when Jaylen Brown is unavailable. Brown missed his second consecutive game due to a left hip flexor strain, yet Boston’s depth shone as multiple players stepped up.
The game marked Boston’s best start to a season since 2019-20, with their current record matching their 10-1 start that year.
Atlanta’s defensive struggles were evident, as they allowed Boston to shoot 33% from beyond the arc in the first half alone. The Hawks entered the game allowing opponents a league-high 41.4% three-point shooting, and Boston exploited this weakness.
