Boston Celtics Stunned by Shorthanded Atlanta Hawks in Emirates NBA Cup Opener

The Boston Celtics blew a 15-point second-half lead and fell to a depleted Atlanta Hawks squad 117-116 on Tuesday night in their opening game of the Emirates NBA Cup. The loss snapped Boston’s two-game winning streak, dropping their record to 9-3 on the season.

Despite entering as heavy 16.5-point favorites, the Celtics struggled to capitalize on their advantage, especially with Atlanta missing key players, including All-Star Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Hawks started two-way guard Keaton Wallace and relied heavily on contributions from role players like Dyson Daniels, who led Atlanta with 28 points, seven assists, and six steals.

Boston’s Early Command

The Celtics overcame a sluggish start, building a double-digit halftime lead behind stellar performances from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Brown, fresh off a hip issue, was electric, scoring 20 first-half points and finishing the game with a team-high 37. White added 31 points, shooting an impressive 7-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Boston’s offense leaned heavily on their stars, as their bench struggled throughout. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser combined for just 12 points, while the entire second unit failed to sustain momentum.

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Hawks’ Resilient Comeback

Atlanta chipped away at Boston’s lead by dominating the paint, outscoring the Celtics 68-32 inside. They also capitalized on Boston’s uncharacteristic sloppiness, scoring 19 points off 20 Celtics turnovers. Onyeka Okongwu’s putback in the final minute gave the Hawks a crucial lead, while Brown’s potential game-winner missed as time expired.

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