Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Hawks: Boston Benefits From Ball Movement

The chemistry-heavy Celtics keep control of their second-half lead.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics picked up a road win at the State Farm Arena. Boston maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half. 

Jayson Tatum led the team with 34 points and 15 rebounds. This is the Celtics forward's fourth double-double over 5 games. 

Making a return to his home state, Jaylen Brown recorded 24 points, 5 rebounds, and a team-high 7 assists. Brown primarily attacked from inside of the paint. 

Ball movement was a key element in the Celtics' victory. Tatum, Brown, Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and Malcolm Brogdon all finished with 5 or more assists. 

The Celtics thrived from three-point range, making 20 of their 42 attempts. Tatum was responsible for 9 of the misses, while Al Horford, Sam Hauser, and Brogdon each finished with higher than a 50 percent accuracy.  

Trae Young produced 35 points and 13 assists. Second chance points kept the Hawk's alive, which stemmed from their 13 offensive rebounds.

Now, a deep dive into what stood out in each quarter of the Celtics' impressive performance.

Deep Zone Shots and Depth Propelled Boston to a First Half Lead 

Atlanta started the contest with a 7-0 lead, but their momentum was erased almost immediately. Smart, Tatum, and Horford all hit three-pointers in the first three minutes of play.

The rest of the quarter was back and forth, with Atlanta outpacing Boston 38-37 at the end of the first frame. Tatum led Boston with 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, sinking 5 out of 8 field goal attempts.

During the second quarter, Boston's bench helped spark a 12-0 run over the Hawks. 

Sam Hauser drained all three of his three-point attempts, while Blake Griffin collected 4 points and 4 assists. Brogdon led the second unit with a contribution of 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. 

Hauser, Griffin, and Brogdon combined for a plus-minus rating of +34. 

Young picked up an early double-double, accumulating 17 points and 11 assists before half time. John Collins and DeAndre Hunter's offensive efforts also helped keep the Hawks afloat. 

The Celtics' 12 three-pointers prompted a 10-point lead at half time. Tatum remained the team's leading scorer with a total of 18 points. 

ATTACK MODE 💥 pic.twitter.com/JAPdnwPmzJ

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 12, 2023

Atlanta Can't Rally in the Third Quarter

Atlanta picked up their tempo at the start of the second half, but Boston answered back each time. 

The three-point barrage continued, as Tatum, Brogdon, Hauser, and White each sunk one. This was Hauser's fourth-straight make from deep range. 

Jaylen Brown strayed away from deep range, instead scoring 6 points from inside of the paint. The Georgia native finished the third quarter with 20 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. 

A key moment came when Tatum lobbed up the ball to Brown, which was followed by a smooth jump-back shot from near the free-throw line. 

He works on that 😌 pic.twitter.com/wO8EOh6VLE

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 12, 2023

The third quarter ended with Boston holding an 11-point lead. Atlanta thrived off of second chance points, with a total of 14.

Though this was Boston's lowest scoring quarter, 30 points, the Hawks were unable to take advantage. 

Boston Maintains Control in the Fourth Quarter

The Hawks were determined to make a comeback. By the seven-minute mark, the score was 110-105.

Second chance points remained a crucial component for the Hawks. Clint Capella and Onyeka Okongwu combined for nine offensive rebounds with six minutes remaining. 

On Boston's end, Tatum continued to take the three-point shot. Meanwhile, Horford added defensive pressure, while Brown focused on moving the ball on offense. 

With four minutes left, Tatum racked up his fifth foul. He was cautious about his limit for the remainder of the match-up, but was still a dominant on both ends of the floor. 

With 1:25 remaining, a fight nearly broke out between Smart and Young. While going up for a layup, it appeared Young kicked back at Smart below the belt. 

After review, officials ejected Smart from the game and issued a technical foul to Young. 

Free throws from the Hawks guard narrowed Boston's lead to six points. The next sequence involved a missed three-pointer from Tatum, which opened up the game for Atlanta. 

Young, however, missed a succession of crucial shots with a minute remaining. Young and Saddiq Bey both compensated by grabbing offensive rebounds, but Horford's block over Collins definitively killed the Hawks' momentum. 

Tatum's in-transition assist to Brogdon sealed the fate of the game. 

Big time players make big time plays 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ZdFFUnzqCA

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 12, 2023

The fourth quarter finished 134-125, with Boston coming out on the winning end. 

Up Next

The Celtics travel westward to play the Houston Rockets on Monday night. The match tips off at 8 pm EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the game before, during, and afterward. 

Further Reading

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The Celtics' Identity Has Changed for the Worst, But There's Time to Recalibrate

Celtics Address Losing 14-Point Fourth-Quarter Lead in Loss to the Cavaliers: 'We Just Have to Have a Fighter's Mentality'

Malcolm Brogdon Shares His Message to the Celtics After Overtime Loss to Cavaliers

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Cavaliers: Boston Pays for Second-Chance Points Surrendered and Grant Williams' Missed FTs

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