Inside The Celtics

Jayson Tatum on Celtics' Maintaining a Must-Win Mindset: 'We're Trying Not to Make it Tougher on Ourselves'

The Celtics' aggressive approach and mental toughness made the difference, as they never relinquished the lead after the 8:18 mark in the first frame of their Game 4 win.

Bobby Krivitsky

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
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The Celtics are returning to Boston with a 3-1 lead and a chance to end their first-round series with the Hawks on the TD Garden parquet.

In Sunday's Game 4, the visitors' aggressive approach and attacking mentality made the difference in their 129-121 win. Exemplifying that was Jaylen Brown consistently getting downhill in the second half, producing 22 of his 31 points.

Brown relentlessly attacking the rim also led to a pair of clutch assists, creating back-to-back Robert Williams layups, putting Boston up by seven with 3:14 left.

And in the final minute, the Time Lord returned the favor, diving to the floor for a Tommy Point and an assist to Brown that helped seal the victory.

Williams also had a significant impact on the boards, grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds and at the rim, especially defensively, where he swatted two Atlanta attempts. Celtics' star Jayson Tatum co-hosted the block party with him, rejecting three shots, the most of any participant.

And while the Hawks made runs throughout the game, Boston consistently stemmed the tide, holding onto the lead from the 8:18 mark in the first quarter, when it went ahead 12-11, and never relinquishing it the rest of the night.

After the win, Tatum, who generated 18 points in the second half, finishing with 31, seven rebounds, four assists, and the previously mentioned game-high three blocks, conveyed the following about a lesson the defending Eastern Conference champions learned the hard way last year.

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Hawks: Jaylen Brown's 22 Second-Half Points Propels Boston to 3-1 Series Lead

Celtics Address Game 3 Loss to Hawks: 'This One Tonight is On Me'

The Hawks Hit Hardest in Game 3, Now, Joe Mazzulla Wants Celtics to 'Throw One Back'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss in Game 3 vs. Hawks: Boston Struggles to Find Balance as Atlanta Extends Series

[Film Room] Derrick White's Assertiveness Leads to 26 Points, MVP Chants as Celtics Take 2-0 Lead

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Hawks in Game 2: Swarming Defense and 64 Paint Points Propels Boston to 2-0 Lead

The Celtics Discuss Their Game 1 Win vs. the Hawks: 'We Can't Take Our Foot Off the Gas'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Win vs. Hawks: Championship-Caliber Defense Propels Hosts in Series Opener

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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