The Boston Celtics, who are leading the Eastern Conference, have the advantage of using the end of the regular season to prepare for the playoffs.
The Celtics now understand they can’t relax if they end up facing the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Dejounte Murray, with a career-high 44 points, including a go-ahead shot in the final second of overtime, led the Hawks to a 123-122 win over the Celtics on Thursday night.
Murray scored all of Atlanta’s 11 points in the extra period, securing the Hawks' second win over Boston in four days. These teams currently hold the 1 and 10 seeds in the Eastern Conference.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla complimented the Hawks, saying, “That’s a really good team.”
Jaylen Brown made a go-ahead shot with 6 seconds left in overtime, giving Boston a 122-121 lead. Murray responded with a shot over Jrue Holiday, as Mazzulla anticipated.
Mazzulla expressed his desire to have Jrue Holiday on Murray at that point of the game, saying, “We want nothing more than Jrue Holiday on Murray at that point of the game.”
Murray, who was listed as questionable due to a sore lower back, celebrated the go-ahead shot before being embraced by teammate Garrison Mathews.
Murray, who made 18 of 44 shots, stated, “I’m just built for those moments. I’m a confident guy.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 24 points and De’Andre Hunter had 21 points and 13 rebounds, contributing to Atlanta's fourth consecutive win, matching its longest streak of the season.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis scored 20 points and Brown had 18.
Bogdanovic expressed his lack of concern for Murray missing the game, saying, “He never quits. Never. Whenever I see, like, he’s questionable I’m like, he’s good. He’s good.”
“He never quits,” said Bogdanovic. “Never. Whenever I see, like, he’s questionable I’m like, he’s good. He’s good.”
On Monday night, the Hawks were behind by 30 points before coming back to win 120-118 against the Celtics. It was Atlanta’s largest comeback win since at least the 1997-98 season.
The Celtics currently have the best record in the NBA and have secured the No. 1 seed in the East.
Atlanta holds the final play-in spot in the East. They would end up facing the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs if they make it through the play-in tournament with the ninth or 10th spot from the conference.
“We’re not tanking,” Murray said when asked about possibly missing the game due to his sore back. “We’re not trying to lose. We’re trying to win games and see how high we can get.”
Boston forward Al Horford did not play due to a left big toe sprain.
The Hawks have achieved four consecutive wins with a depleted lineup. Forward Onyeka Okongwu missed his fourth consecutive game due to a left big toe sprain. The Hawks announced that forward Saddiq Bey, who was already ruled out for the season, underwent surgery Wednesday to repair the torn anterior crucial ligament in his left knee.
All-Star point guard Trae Young and forward Jalen Johnson have missed 17 and eight consecutive games, respectively. Young received a technical foul from the bench during the second period following a 3-pointer by Murray.
A supporter of the Hawks, wearing a Hunter jersey, successfully made a shot from halfcourt during halftime and won $10,000.
