Game ID: 22501067
Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 26 29 32 22 109ATL 29 31 22 20 102
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 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 3 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 4 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/25 · 2 days' restOUT Vučević missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 5 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 6 since 3/14, returns tonight: 28 min (159% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 24 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/27 after 6, 28 min since (159% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/30 · back-to-backOUT Brown missed 2 since 3/27, returns tonight: 40 min (116% of 34)
OUT Vučević missed 11 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/27 after 6, 31 min since (177% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 12 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/30 after 2, 40 min since (116% of 34)
BACK Walsh back 3/27 after 6, 31 min since (178% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 13 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Brown back 3/30 after 2, 39 min since (112% of 34)
BACK Walsh back 3/27 after 6, 24 min since (141% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 24 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kuminga back 3/12 after 3, 19 min since (81% of 23)
ATL availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Dennis missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kuminga back 3/12 after 3, 19 min since (81% of 23)
ATL availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 4 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 4 since 3/16, returns tonight: 7 min (59% of 11)
OUT Newell missed 10 since 3/01, out tonight
ATL availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/21, returns tonight: 42 min (119% of 35)
OUT Dennis missed 5 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 11 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 11)
ATL availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 6 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 12 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 42 min since (119% of 35)
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 11)
ATL availability going into 3/28 · back-to-backOUT Dennis missed 7 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 3/25, returns tonight: 11 min (99% of 11)
OUT Newell missed 13 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 39 min since (112% of 35)
ATL availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 8 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 14 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 39 min since (109% of 35)
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 9 min since (79% of 11)
NEW Landale 19 to 25 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 9 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 15 since 3/01, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 11)
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 38 min since (108% of 35)
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 9 min since (79% of 11)
NEW Landale 19 to 28 min over the last 3
ATL availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Kispert missed 2 since 3/30, returns tonight: 15 min (87% of 17)
OUT Dennis missed 10 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 3/30, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 11)
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 37 min since (105% of 35)
BACK Newell back 4/01 after 15, 3 min since (25% of 11)
NEW Landale 19 to 26 min over the last 3
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 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brown at 33 and Tatum at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Vučević (9 straight), Walsh (6 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 21 and McCollum at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Atlanta's 117 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Atlanta plus-3. Call it Boston 116, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/18 vs GSW 120-99 — BOS notes
BOS won 120-99. BOS shot 48% (44 of 92) to GSW's 40%, 14 of 39 from three. The glass went 49-39 for them. Brown led with 32 (11 of 20, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Tatum added 24, Pritchard 19. The hinge was Q1, 36-23: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/20 @ MEM 117-112 — BOS notes
BOS won 117-112. BOS shot 45% (40 of 89) to MEM's 47%, 11 of 42 from three, and went to the line 30 times to MEM's 17 — 26 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 57-35 for them. Brown led with 30 (10 of 23, 2 of 5 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Garza added 22, Pritchard 19. The hinge was Q4, 33-24: BOS came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 5.
3/22 vs MIN 92-102 — BOS notes
BOS lost 92-102. BOS shot 36% (34 of 95) to MIN's 43%, 9 of 33 from three. Brown led with 29 (9 of 26, 2 of 6 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Tatum added 16, White 15. Q1 was theirs, 23-14, but the other 3 periods went 88-69 against them. They led by as many as 15. Scheierman's -16 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs OKC 119-109 — BOS notes
BOS won 119-109. BOS shot 47% (38 of 81) to OKC's 48%, 18 of 41 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to OKC's 7. Brown led with 31 (9 of 17, 1 of 3 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Tatum added 19, Pritchard 14. The hinge was Q3, 39-30: BOS came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 5. BOS trailed 49-53 at the half and won the second half 70-56. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
3/27 vs ATL 109-102 — BOS notes
BOS won 109-102. BOS shot 47% (38 of 81) to ATL's 39%, 14 of 35 from three. BOS turned it over 15 times to ATL's 4. The glass went 52-35 for them. Pritchard led with 36 (13 of 23, 6 of 11 from three); Tatum added 26, Garza 11. The hinge was Q3, 32-22: BOS came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 5. BOS trailed 55-60 at the half and won the second half 54-42. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/29 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ball at 22 and Miller at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 16 a night. Without Salaün (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Pritchard at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Vučević (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 41 percent from three to Boston's 35 and the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-16 a night and Boston plus-11. Call it Charlotte 113, Boston 110, Boston keeping it close.
3/30 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 27 and Alexander-Walker at 22 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Pritchard at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Brown (2 straight), Vučević (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Atlanta plus-2 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Atlanta's 114. Call it Atlanta 116, Boston 111.
4/01 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Herro at 22 and Powell at 18 a game. Without Powell (2 straight), Jović (5 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Vučević (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Miami's 126 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Miami minus-2. Call it Boston 115, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.
4/03 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rollins at 24 and Dieng at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (8 straight), Portis (5 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 34 and Tatum at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Vučević (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Milwaukee minus-5 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 117, Milwaukee 110.
3/20 @ HOU 95-117 — ATL notes
ATL lost 95-117. ATL shot 42% (36 of 85) to HOU's 51%, 9 of 35 from three, and got to the line 17 times to HOU's 28. The glass went 37-51 against them. Alexander-Walker led with 21 (6 of 12, 1 of 3 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); McCollum added 17, Risacher 16. Q4 was theirs, 19-16, the deficit cut from 25 to 22, but the other 3 periods went 101-76 against them. Johnson's -27 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 vs GSW 126-110 — ATL notes
ATL won 126-110. ATL shot 54% (48 of 89) to GSW's 50%, 13 of 40 from three. The glass went 41-29 for them. Daniels led with 28 (12 of 17, 2 of 5 from three); McCollum added 23, Alexander-Walker 17. The hinge was Q3, 39-20: a lead of 2 became 21, and the lead reached 28. Daniels was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/23 vs MEM 146-107 — ATL notes
ATL won 146-107. ATL shot 53% (49 of 92) to MEM's 42%, 25 of 54 from three. ATL turned it over 11 times to MEM's 21. The glass went 44-34 for them. Alexander-Walker led with 26 (8 of 11, 4 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Okongwu added 16, Kuminga 16. The hinge was Q3, 45-29: a lead of 25 became 41, and the lead reached 44. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
3/25 @ DET 130-129 — ATL notes
ATL won 130-129 in 1 overtime. ATL shot 48% (50 of 105) to DET's 51%, 18 of 52 from three. ATL turned it over 20 times to DET's 14, and DET turned those into 12 steals. Johnson led with 27 (9 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); McCollum added 27, Alexander-Walker 21. The hinge was Q2, 36-26: a lead of 8 became 18, and the lead reached 21.
3/27 @ BOS 102-109 — ATL notes
ATL lost 102-109. ATL shot 39% (34 of 87) to BOS's 47%, 15 of 42 from three. ATL turned it over 4 times to BOS's 15. The glass went 35-52 against them. Johnson led with 29 (9 of 21, 5 of 11 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); McCollum added 21, Alexander-Walker 20. Q1 was theirs, 29-26, but the other 3 periods went 83-73 against them. They led by as many as 16. Risacher's -17 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/28 vs SAC — 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 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 23 and Alexander-Walker at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 130, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Raynaud at 22 and Plowden at 20 a game. Without Murray (14 straight), LaVine (21 straight), Hunter (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 114 a night to Sacramento's 130 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to Atlanta's 36. Call it Atlanta 123, Sacramento 112, Atlanta by 11.
3/30 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 27 and Alexander-Walker at 22 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Pritchard at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Brown (2 straight), Vučević (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and Atlanta plus-2 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Atlanta's 114. Call it Atlanta 116, Boston 111.
4/01 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 31 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and Bane at 19 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (22 straight), Black (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Alexander-Walker at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 112 a night to Orlando's 126 and the line, where Orlando takes 31 free throws a game to Atlanta's 21. Call it Atlanta 120, Orlando 115.
4/03 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williams at 15 and Minott at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Wolf (5 straight), Sharpe (12 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 24 and Alexander-Walker at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Kispert (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-0 a night and Brooklyn minus-12 and the arc, Atlanta at 38 percent from three to Brooklyn's 31. Call it Atlanta 116, Brooklyn 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSBS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
HG H. González
JT J. Tatum
JW J. Walsh
LG L. Garza
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
ATLCK C. Kispert
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
GV G. Vincent
JJ J. Johnson
JK J. Kuminga
MG M. Gueye
NA N. Alexander-Walker
OO O. Okongwu
ZR Z. Risacher
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
Pritchard and Tatum help Celtics beat the Hawks 109-102 without Brown
BOSTON -- — Payton Pritchard scored 36 points, Jayson Tatum had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 109-102 on Friday night.
Jalen Johnson scored 29 points and CJ McCollum had 21 for the Hawks, who came in 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points but Atlanta's shooting touch faded as the game progressed after a strong start.
Boston played without All-Star guard Jaylen Brown , who was ruled out with Achilles tendinitis.
Behind Pritchard’s spark off the bench and a dramatic swing beyond the arc, the Celtics caught the Hawks after trailing 25-9 in the first quarter. Boston made seven straight 3-pointers during the second quarter, but Johnson and Atlanta went into halftime up 60-55.
Fresh off an overtime victory over Eastern Conference leader Detroit, Atlanta entered the final quarter within striking distance of Boston, which has the East's second-best record. Tatum had a tough night from the field, missing 16 of 24 shots, yet his spinning drive to the rim gave Boston a 97-86 lead with 7:29 remaining.
After getting fouled on a 3-point attempt with time winding down on the shot clock, Tatum sealed it with three free throws that gave Boston a 107-99 lead with a minute left.
The surging Hawks entered Friday with 14 wins in their last 15 games. They had their three-game winning streak snapped after shooting 39% from the field.
Brown missed his eighth game of the season. The Celtics improved to 7-1 without their leading scorer. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said he was day to day.