Game ID: 22300729
Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 35 36 24 30 125ATL 37 30 23 27 117
ATL @ BOS ScoutingATL @ BOS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's rest
full strength
BOS availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 31 min (108% of 29)
BOS availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 1/30 after 2, 31 min since (108% of 29)
BOS availability going into 2/04 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 3 since 1/29, returns tonight: 15 min (101% of 15)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/30 after 2, 30 min since (105% of 29)
BOS availability going into 2/07 · 2 days' restBACK Porziņģis back 1/30 after 2, 30 min since (102% of 29)
BACK Kornet back 2/04 after 3, 15 min since (101% of 15)
BOS availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restBACK Porziņģis back 1/30 after 2, 30 min since (103% of 29)
BACK Kornet back 2/04 after 3, 18 min since (122% of 15)
BOS availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 1/30 after 2, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Kornet back 2/04 after 3, 16 min since (106% of 15)
BOS availability going into 2/13 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Kornet back 2/04 after 3, 12 min since (84% of 15)
BOS availability going into 2/14 · back-to-backOUT Queta missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 13 min (118% of 11)
BACK Kornet back 2/04 after 3, 13 min since (87% of 15)
ATL availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 19 since 12/22, returns tonight: 16 min (56% of 30)
OUT Krejčí missed 18 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 4 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 42 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 42 since 11/01, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 12)
OUT Matthews missed 11 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 36)
ATL availability going into 2/02 · 2 days' restOUT Krejčí missed 19 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 5 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 43 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 12 since 1/10, returns tonight: 12 min (109% of 12)
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 16 min since (56% of 30)
BACK Bufkin back 1/30 after 42, 2 min since (17% of 12)
ATL availability going into 2/03 · back-to-backOUT Krejčí missed 20 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 6 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 44 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 16 min since (56% of 30)
BACK Bufkin back 1/30 after 42, 2 min since (17% of 12)
BACK Matthews back 2/02 after 12, 12 min since (109% of 12)
ATL availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Krejčí missed 21 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 7 since 1/22, returns tonight: 14 min (90% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 45 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 3 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 39 min since (108% of 36)
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 16 min since (55% of 30)
BACK Matthews back 2/02 after 12, 12 min since (109% of 12)
NEW Johnson 34 to 39 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Krejčí missed 22 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 46 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 4 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 17 min since (58% of 30)
BACK Fernando back 2/05 after 7, 14 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Matthews back 2/02 after 12, 9 min since (82% of 12)
NEW Johnson 34 to 39 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Capela missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 23 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 47 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 4 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 5 since 1/30, returns tonight: 8 min (75% of 11)
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 19 min since (63% of 30)
BACK Fernando back 2/05 after 7, 13 min since (85% of 15)
BACK Matthews back 2/02 after 12, 9 min since (82% of 12)
NEW Okongwu 26 to 32 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/10 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 2 since 2/07, returns tonight: 40 min (112% of 36)
OUT Capela missed 3 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 24 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 48 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 5 since 2/02, returns tonight: 16 min (137% of 12)
OUT Matthews missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 2/05 after 7, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 2/09 after 5, 8 min since (75% of 11)
NEW Okongwu 26 to 33 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Capela missed 4 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 25 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 49 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 2 since 2/09, out tonight
BACK Murray back 2/10 after 2, 40 min since (112% of 36)
BACK Fernando back 2/05 after 7, 13 min since (88% of 15)
BACK Bufkin back 2/10 after 5, 16 min since (137% of 12)
BACK Forrest back 2/09 after 5, 8 min since (75% of 11)
NEW Johnson 34 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Okongwu 26 to 35 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Capela missed 5 since 2/05, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 26 since 12/23, returns tonight: 2 min (10% of 25)
OUT Gueye missed 50 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 4 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 3 since 2/09, out tonight
BACK Murray back 2/10 after 2, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Fernando back 2/05 after 7, 13 min since (85% of 15)
BACK Bufkin back 2/10 after 5, 16 min since (137% of 12)
NEW Okongwu 26 to 34 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 136 a night and allowing 130, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Krejčí (22 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the line, where Atlanta takes 25 free throws a game to Boston's 17. Call it Boston 124, Atlanta 118.
1/29 vs NOP 118-112 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-112. BOS shot 51% (43 of 85) to NOP's 51%, 17 of 46 from three, and went to the line 20 times to NOP's 13 — 15 points from the stripe to their 10. Tatum led with 28 (10 of 18, 2 of 8 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Brown added 22, Holiday 20. The hinge was Q4, 37-25: BOS came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 6. BOS trailed 50-60 at the half and won the second half 68-52. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/30 vs IND 129-124 — BOS notes
BOS won 129-124. BOS shot 54% (47 of 87) to IND's 46%, 17 of 36 from three, and went to the line 22 times to IND's 15 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 40-50 against them. Tatum led with 30 (12 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Brown added 25, White 24. The hinge was Q1, 36-26: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Queta was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/01 vs LAL 105-114 — BOS notes
BOS lost 105-114. BOS shot 42% (41 of 97) to LAL's 40%, 16 of 48 from three, and got to the line just 7 times against 19 fouls committed. BOS turned it over 15 times to LAL's 7, and LAL turned those into 11 steals. Tatum led with 23 (8 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Porziņģis added 17, Hauser 17. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 14 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 86-73 against them. Porziņģis's -22 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 vs MEM 131-91 — BOS notes
BOS won 131-91. BOS shot 48% (48 of 99) to MEM's 38%, 19 of 51 from three, and went to the line 18 times to MEM's 12 — 16 points from the stripe to their 10. BOS turned it over 10 times to MEM's 20. The glass went 57-46 for them. Tatum led with 34 (12 of 22, 6 of 12 from three); Porziņģis added 26, White 15. The hinge was Q4, 32-15: a lead of 23 became 40. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/07 vs ATL 125-117 — BOS notes
BOS won 125-117. BOS shot 53% (49 of 93) to ATL's 42%, 17 of 49 from three, and got to the line 11 times to ATL's 20. BOS turned it over 14 times to ATL's 9, and ATL turned those into 8 steals. Porziņģis led with 31 (13 of 19, 2 of 4 from three); White added 21, Tatum 20. The hinge was Q2, 36-30: BOS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 4. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/09 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 23 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Kispert at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Bagley III (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Washington's 31 and the defense, Boston allowing 112 a night to Washington's 120. Call it Boston 123, Washington 110, Boston by 13.
2/11 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 23 and Adebayo at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 3 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Boston's 115 and the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Miami's 33. Call it Miami 114, Boston 113, Boston keeping it close.
2/13 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Thomas at 23 and Bridges at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Cam. Johnson (3 straight), Sharpe (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Brooklyn minus-6. Call it Boston 117, Brooklyn 113, Brooklyn keeping it close.
2/14 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Porziņģis at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 22 and Thomas at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Cam. Johnson (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Brooklyn minus-8. Call it Boston 119, Brooklyn 110.
1/30 vs LAL 138-122 — ATL notes
ATL won 138-122. ATL shot 52% (53 of 101) to LAL's 53%, 16 of 38 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAL's 25. Young led with 26 (9 of 20, 6 of 9 from three); Murray added 24, Johnson 19. The hinge was Q1, 36-29: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/02 vs PHX 129-120 — ATL notes
ATL won 129-120. ATL shot 52% (49 of 95) to PHX's 53%, 17 of 44 from three. ATL turned it over 9 times to PHX's 16. Young led with 32 (12 of 17, 7 of 11 from three); Bogdanović added 23, Murray 22. The hinge was Q4, 30-25: a lead of 4 became 9. Okongwu was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/03 vs GSW 141-134 — ATL notes
ATL won 141-134 in 1 overtime. ATL shot 48% (55 of 114) to GSW's 45%, 14 of 43 from three. ATL turned it over 8 times to GSW's 14. Young led with 35 (12 of 21, 7 of 11 from three); Okongwu added 22, Johnson 21. The hinge was OT1, 18-11: from level to 7 ahead. Mathews was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/05 vs LAC 144-149 — ATL notes
ATL lost 144-149. ATL shot 54% (51 of 95) to LAC's 58%, 20 of 39 from three. Hunter led with 27 (10 of 12, 3 of 5 from three); Young added 25, Murray 21. Q2 was theirs, 38-29, the deficit cut from 9 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 120-106 against them.
2/07 @ BOS 117-125 — ATL notes
ATL lost 117-125. ATL took 9 more shots (102 to 93), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to BOS's 53%, 13 of 41 from three, and went to the line 20 times to BOS's 11 — 18 points from the stripe to their 10. ATL turned it over 9 times to BOS's 14. Bey led with 25 (9 of 16, 4 of 7 from three); Young added 20, Johnson 19. Q1 was theirs, 37-35, but the other 3 periods went 90-80 against them. Hunter's -13 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/09 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Maxey at 25 and Harris at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Embiid (4 straight), Melton (13 straight), Batum (5 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 130, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Capela (2 straight), Krejčí (23 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Philadelphia minus-4. Call it Atlanta 123, Philadelphia 122, Philadelphia keeping it close.
2/10 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 132 a night and allowing 130, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Murray (2 straight), Capela (3 straight), Krejčí (24 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 18 and Whitmore at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without VanVleet (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 113 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 13 times a game to Atlanta's 10. Call it Atlanta 121, Houston 118, Houston keeping it close.
2/12 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 128, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 27 and Murray at 25 a game. Without Capela (4 straight), Krejčí (25 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and White at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Williams (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-5 a night and Atlanta minus-4 and the defense, Chicago allowing 116 a night to Atlanta's 128. Call it Atlanta 121, Chicago 119, Chicago keeping it close.
2/14 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Miller at 20 a game. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 129, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 29 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Young at 24 a game. Without Capela (5 straight), Krejčí (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the line, where Atlanta takes 29 free throws a game to Charlotte's 17 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 115 a night to Atlanta's 129. Call it Charlotte 120, Atlanta 119, Atlanta keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
ATLBB B. Bogdanović
BF B. Fernando
BO Bogdanovic
DH D. Hunter
GM G. Mathews
JJ J. Johnson
OO O. Okongwu
PM P. Mills
SB S. Bey
TY T. Young
BOS/ATL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Porzingis, White lead Celtics to 125-117 win over Hawks
BOSTON -- — Kristaps Porzingis scored 31 points, Derrick White scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 125-117 on Wednesday night.
Jayson Tatum finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Celtics improved to 24-3 at home and won their seventh straight over the Hawks. Al Horford added 14 points with eight rebounds and eight assists and Jaylen Brown finished with 15 points.
“When we’re playing like that and we’re moving it like that, I just think that puts us in a different dimension offensively,” Horford said. “We have so many weapons out there that it becomes very tough to defend us.”
Brown was the only Boston starter not to hit a 3-pointer as the Celtics went 17 for 49 from beyond the arc, making 9 of 16 in the fourth quarter to put away the pesky Hawks.
Saddiq Bey led Atlanta with 25 points. Trae Young had 20 points and 10 assists and Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu added 19 points apiece for the Hawks. Johnson had 15 rebounds and Atlanta finished with a 49-45 rebounding advantage and had only nine turnovers to Boston's 14, but could not overcome the Celtics' shooting 52.7% (49-93) from the floor.
“When you shoot then you’re going to have to make some shots against a team that shoots it as well as Boston does,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said.
Atlanta had won four straight before the streak ended Sunday night with a 149-144 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers . The Hawks stayed within seven points through the first three quarters but didn’t have enough to overcome a surge by the Celtics early in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta also struggled from outside, making just 4 of 17 3-pointers in the second half.
“I thought the looks we had from three were clean. The ball just didn’t accommodate us,” Snyder said.
Although the Hawks rallied to pull within five in the final minute, it was too late to finish a comeback.
“I thought the way we played the game tonight was kind of how I like our approach to be,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We never wished for it to be over. We never wished for things to be a little bit easier. We just played the game and continued to chip away at it and think that’s the space that we have to live in.”
White made three 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter and went 4 for 5 from long range in the period. His third 3-pointer of the quarter pushed the lead to 109-98 — Boston’s largest of the game — with 8:01 left to play. He added another from outside as Boston stretched the lead to 13.
“I felt like when we really needed to separate, we did that. We got some key stops and then our guys hit some big shots,” Horford said.
Brown returned after missing Sunday’s game with a back injury but the Celtics were without Jrue Holiday , who was out with a sprained right elbow.
Hawks center Clint Capela sat out his second straight game with a muscle strain in his left hip.