The Atlanta Hawks emerged victorious in a tightly contested overtime battle against the Boston Celtics, securing a 119-115 win at State Farm Arena on Saturday night. Trae Young led the charge with 28 points and 12 assists, helping the Hawks improve to 22-19 on the season.
Young, returning from a one-game absence due to a bruised rib, sank two clutch free throws with 3.5 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Dyson Daniels added a key jumper in the extra period and finished with 23 points, including an impressive 11-of-14 shooting performance.
The Celtics, who dropped to 29-13, were led by Jaylen Brown’s near triple-double of 24 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Jayson Tatum contributed 23 points despite struggling with his shot, going 7-of-21 from the field. Tatum, listed as questionable before the game due to a left shoulder strain, missed a potential game-winning fadeaway at the end of regulation and a critical three-pointer late in overtime.
Atlanta capitalized on its size advantage, with Onyeka Okongwu posting a strong double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Okongwu sealed the win with two free throws in the final seconds of overtime. De’Andre Hunter also returned to the lineup and contributed 16 points after missing time with a sore left foot.
The Celtics played without key frontcourt players Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, both sidelined with injuries. Luke Kornet stepped into the starting lineup and delivered 17 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes. Payton Pritchard added a spark off the bench with 20 points, hitting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Defensively, Atlanta held Boston to 38.5% shooting overall and just 28.8% from three-point range. The Hawks’ physicality was evident in their 55-53 rebounding edge, including 13 offensive boards that led to critical second-chance opportunities.
Boston has now split its last 16 games, while Atlanta has won three of its last four.