Final: Celtics 109, Hawks 106 -- Theis block seals comeback victory

Daniel Theis blocked a potential game-winning 3 from Trae Young with five seconds remaining, helping the C's complete an 18-point comeback and escape with a 109-106 win over the Hawks. Jaylen Brown had a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts who struggled early on without All-Star Kemba Walker (illness), falling behind by as many as 18 points in the first quarter.

The C's rallied behind the play of Brown however while also getting 18 points and 6 rebounds from Gordon Hayward and 15 points and 9 assists from Marcus Smart. The C's led by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter but also blew it late thanks to some craftiness from Trae Young (28 points, 10 assists) before Theis capped his game with a big block (14 points, 6 rebounds).

The C's now find themselves in sole position of second place in the East with the win with a back-to-back looming in Chicago on Saturday night. 

First Half Notes

TWO UP

Jaylen Brown:  The swingman shook off an ugly first quarter to provide a defensive spark with his a couple big steals combined with a team-high 11 points to help field a 34-23 turnaround for the C’s in the second quarter.

Gordon Hayward: The veteran found his rhythm from the midrange as the half progressed, knocking down five of his ten shots in the first half, to give him a team-high 11 points at intermission.

TWO DOWN

Jayson Tatum: The forward went to the rim constantly in the first half but couldn’t get any kind of a rhythm going missing eight of his first nine shots in one of his ugliest offensive performances of the year.

The first quarter: The Celtics were dismal at both ends of the floor, shooting just 30 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from 3-point range while allowing the NBA’s worst team to shoot 52 percent from the field in the midst of falling behind by double digits.

• Kemba Walker has been ruled out due to flu-like symptoms. Jaylen Brown is back in the lineup after a one-game absence due to a sinus infection. More analysis on the C's depth chart without Walker. 


• Tremont Waters has been recalled from Maine to provide some added depth at the point guard position with Walker out.


• Trae Young will be back for the Hawks after a week absence due to a sprained ankle.


• Atlanta had lost 11 games in a row before beating Orlando earlier this week.