BSJ Game Report: Hawks 123, Celtics 122 (OT) - Murray buries Celtics with overtime flurry

Everything you need to know about the Celtics loss to the Hawks, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

Everyone but Kristaps Porzingis started cold for Boston, and a big quarter from Dejounte Murray made this one-point game after one. Jayson Tatum’s 12 points helped hold off the Hawks, who hung around thanks to a ton of second chances. That continued into the third, which also included De’Andre Hunter catching fire to keep things close. Murray continued his game-long attack to keep things close, and Bogan Bogdanovic broke a cold streak to tie the game late and ultimately send it to OT.  They went back and forth in OT, but Murray scored all 11 Hawks points and hit one more shot than the Celtics, who have lost two in a row.  

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Late game execution: The end of regulation was the bad side of the coin while overtime was actually good execution on offense. They ran a decent play to get Porzingis a touch in overtime and it got Jaylen Brown a shot in a comfortable shot on the floor. 

- Second chances: Atlanta got 28 second-chance points, which is the result of Boston’s lackadaisical defense. We’re all going to get worked up about the end of the game, but the loss is all about not getting the stops they needed defensively. 

- Too much Murray: He scored 44 points, but it took 44 shots, which is not really efficient at all. But he was relentless in attacking Porzingis, and that really got him going. By the time Boston started switching and defending him differently, he was too hot to stop.  

TURNING POINT

The Celtics couldn't corral the rebound off a Murray miss with :32 left on the clock, giving Atlanta another second chance, which Bogdan Bogdanovic cashed in with a 3-pointer. That tied the game to send it into overtime. Boston had a chance to close it out and they missed. 

THINGS I LIKED

- Learning: You might hate this, because you don’t see the game this way. And I’ll get more into this separately because it’s worth exploring further. There is always something to learn from these games, even up until the very end. There is always an opportunity to grow, and the Celtics actually can take things from this game that can be applied moving forward. 

- Derrick White: I feel like they got away from a very effective White late in the game to focus more on Tatum initiating. White was very good in this game, putting up 22 points on 8-11 shooting. He also had seven rebounds and five assists. I would have liked more of him down the stretch. 

- Getting the ball to Porzingis in overtime: They actually ran a play that didn’t involve Tatum when they needed to score a bucket down one. Halle-freakin’-lujah. This goes with the learning bit.  

- This Jaylen Brown dunk: 

That was ridiculous. And since we're talking about Jaylen, I should mention that he played some phenomenal defense down the stretch. I wish everyone was playing that kind of defense the whole time ... or for at least long enough to win the game. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- The last shot of regulation: I fully understand the need to get the last shot there, but that wasn’t it. More down below. 

- The lack of defense: This is the real reason they lost this game. It will get lost in the teeth-gnashing over the execution piece, but they weren’t strong at the point of attack, they allowed a lot of drives, and that forced help all over the floor, which led to the offensive rebounds. If the Celtics had been stronger on the ball, then they probably wouldn’t have allowed nearly as many second-chance points.  

- The officiating: One of the most wildly inconsistent games I’ve seen in a while. They went from allowing tons of contact to calling touch fouls to allowing tons of contact again. They were all over the place for both teams. 

HIGHLIGHTS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- It’s okay to pass the ball late in the game

These are two different situations, but let’s look at the two last-second shots from tonight. 

Here’s Tatum’s

And here’s Brown’s. 

The Celtics held for the last shot on Tatum’s because it was a tie game, which is the right play. But that doesn’t mean they have to hold onto the ball. 

Here’s where Tatum should have passed the ball: 

With 3.9 on the clock, a pass to Brown would get him set with just about three seconds left. That's time to take a dribble, maybe pass to a rolling Holiday because everyone’s head would turn to Brown once the pass was made. White probably could have broken free on the baseline. 

All of those possibilities would have been there had Tatum passed it. When he saw two on him. 

This is the learning part of the game for Tatum and the Celtics. Yes, as Joe Mazzulla said after the game, the goal was to get the ball in Tatum’s hands and have him make a play. But “make a play” doesn’t mean “shoot the ball.”

All of those passes I suggested are easy ones that Boston could have made. Everyone on the floor is capable, and the Celtics have the weaponry to get an easy shot in that situation. Tatum and Brown have gravity. White and Holiday have brains. Those could add up to three easy passes for a layup instead of the shot that Tatum got. 

Porzingis made a pass when they were down one and no one freaked out about it.

There is still plenty of time for the Celtics to compare and contrast these successful and unsuccessful moments. Tatum can learn that being a superstar means passing it sometimes.

And here’s the kicker: the more willing he is to pass late in the game, the more the openings will be there late in the game. If the defense thinks you might pass, they have to stay home on their guys. 

- I hope they're not going into cruise control

The Nuggets proved last year that coasting into the playoffs doesn’t matter, so it’s tough to make this point. But because so many guys have sat out so many games (and will continue to), I hope the Celtics aren’t going to half-ass their way through the rest of the schedule. I hope they're going to see the opportunity to really put in some effort, even for half of the game, to work on some finishing touches heading into the playoffs. 

They still need to work on things, so this isn’t the time to let up. I hope they get that. 

Next up: The Celtics head to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Saturday night