Boston Celtics secure a 3-1 lead over Atlanta Hawks as unstoppable duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown blossom again in a 129-121 win
- Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both scored 31 points to lead the Celtics’ goal scorers
- Trae Young led the way for the Hawks on Sunday with 35 points in the losing effort
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Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 31 points as the Boston Celtics led almost the whole way, held off the Atlanta Hawks for a 129-121 victory on Sunday night and led 3-1 into the opening round of the playoffs.
The Celtics could deliver the final blow on Tuesday-evening when the series returns to Boston for Game 5.
Tatum and Brown combined to score Boston’s last 16 points.
Brown, who wore a protective mask after suffering facial bruising in February, took off the device after taking just 1 of 7 shots. He went 11 of 15 the rest of the way.
Boston never trailed after taking a 4-3 lead off the basket from Derrick White just over a minute into the game.
The Boston Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks 129-121 to take a 3-1 lead in their playoff series
Jaylen Brown (L) and Jayson Tatum (R) both tallied 31 points to lead the Celtics in scoring
Trae Young led the way for the Hawks with 35 points on 11-26 shooting in the losing effort
Tatum delivered a huge three-pointer off a loose ball with two minutes remaining, pushing the Celtics to a 118-106 lead.
After Trae Young swung a long 3 to draw Atlanta’s last breath, Brown hit one down from outside the arc to seal it for the Celtics.
Marcus Smart added 19 points and Derrick White added 18 for the Celtics.
Young had another big game for Atlanta with 35 points, but it wasn’t enough. De’Andre Hunter came in with 27 and DeJounte Murray had 23.
Hunter ripped off eight straight runs, including a pair of 3s, then delivered a thunderous dunk that put the Hawks within 53-49.
But Boston ended the first half with a 12-4 run, capped by Smart’s three-pointer that sent the visitors to the locker room with a 65-53 lead and undermined much of the home crowd’s energy.
The Celtics stubbornly protected their lead throughout the third period.
Young hit a long three-pointer that brought the Hawks within three, but Boston got the final shot and put the ball in Smart’s hands. The Celtics cleared the middle of the field so he could blast through Bogdan Bogdanovic, giving it a 92-87 lead heading into the final quarter.
Smart was in the Celtics lineup and looked fine after a hard fall near the end of Game 3.
He landed on his tailbone while fighting for a rebound, prompting Boston to list him as a playing time decision. But coach Joe Mazzulla declared his guard “good to go” well before the tip.
Robert Williams III (44) reacts after diving for the ball against Hawks forward Saddiq Bey (41)