It seems that the Atlanta Hawks continue to have the Boston Celtics’ measure. In a thrilling overtime showdown, Atlanta guard Dejounte Murray sealed the deal with a game-winning jump shot in the closing seconds, propelling the Hawks to a 123-122 triumph over the Celtics on Thursday.
This victory marks their second win against the team boasting the best record in the NBA this week alone. Just days before, on Monday night, Atlanta achieved a historic comeback, overcoming a daunting 30-point deficit to shock Boston, who had already secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
After a hard-fought battle that extended into overtime to determine the victor, the Celtics appeared to secure the win when All-Star wing Jaylen Brown sank a challenging contested midrange shot, putting Boston ahead by one with just over six seconds remaining. However, Dejounte Murray seized control of the situation, facing off against renowned defender Jrue Holiday.
With determination, Murray rose to take the game-winning shot, which swished through the net with a mere 0.1 seconds left on the clock. Reflecting on the game, Murray expressed pride in his team’s performance against the top team in the NBA.
“We competed against the best team in the NBA,” he stated postgame. “My teammates showed up, we all showed up. No excuses on a back-to-back… we were prepared to come out and play, and we secured a fantastic win.”
Murray’s performance in overtime was particularly noteworthy, as he single-handedly scored all 11 of the Hawks’ points in the extra period. This outstanding display capped off a historic night for Murray, who achieved a career-high 44 points along with seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Despite his impressive scoring output, the 27-year-old’s shooting efficiency was not at its peak, as he made 18 of his 44 field goal attempts, including 19 shots from beyond the arc. Reflecting on his performance, Murray expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “I still feel like I played awful. I don’t intend to take that many shots, but I know Kobe will be proud of me.”
Contributing to the Hawks’ success, Bogdan Bogdanović added 24 points, while De’Andre Hunter, the hero from Monday’s game, contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds. Notably, the Hawks’ injury list highlights the team’s resilience, with superstar point guard Trae Young sidelined since late February, and players like Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Saddiq Bey still absent from the lineup.
Despite these challenges, the Hawks have managed to secure four consecutive wins, hitting their stride at a crucial juncture as the regular season nears its end and anticipation for the postseason grows.
An intriguing aspect of the Hawks’ recent victories over Boston is the potential preview of a first-round playoff matchup between the two teams.