The Boston Celtics began their NBA Cup journey on shaky ground, falling 117-116 to the Atlanta Hawks in a close and chaotic game. Despite a spirited performance from Jaylen Brown, who led Boston with 37 points, the Celtics couldn’t close the deal in the final seconds, leaving them with plenty to ponder as they prepare for the next stages of the tournament.
A Promising Start Undone by Turnovers
Boston took the floor at TD Garden Tuesday night with a fresh look, swapping their classic parquet for a vibrant green-coated court setup to mark the inaugural NBA Cup game. Initially, the Celtics seemed poised for a dominant win over an undermanned Hawks squad missing their star, Trae Young. With Boston up 75-60 midway through the third quarter, the game appeared well in hand.
However, it was the Celtics’ sloppiness with the ball that ultimately unraveled their early lead. Boston committed 20 turnovers, which Atlanta capitalized on time and time again, erasing the Celtics’ 15-point cushion and staying within striking distance until the final buzzer. Jaylen Brown, despite his offensive outburst, was responsible for six of those turnovers, underscoring Boston’s struggles with ball control on the night.
Clutch Moments and Close Calls Down the Stretch
As the game wound down, each possession took on higher stakes. The Celtics landed big shots, with Brown sinking a three-pointer with 1:25 remaining to give Boston a 114-110 edge. But the Hawks had answers of their own. Larry Nance Jr. drilled a three from the corner, bringing Atlanta back within one. Brown followed up with a 16-footer, yet Keaton Wallace’s quick runner with just under 43 seconds left nudged the Hawks within striking distance at 116-115.
Jayson Tatum, struggling with his shot all night (5-for-16), had a chance to extend Boston’s lead, but his shot fell short. Then came a pivotal moment: Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels missed a runner, but Onyeka Okongwu tipped in the go-ahead basket with 6.1 seconds left, handing the Hawks their first lead since the game’s opening moments. The Celtics got one last chance after the Hawks fumbled the inbounds, but with no timeouts left, Brown’s desperate heave at the buzzer missed its mark.
Brown’s Early Dominance, Tatum’s Struggles
Jaylen Brown’s performance was a flashback to his explosive first quarters of seasons past. Setting a fiery pace from the start, Brown racked up 16 points in the opening quarter alone, and his aggressive drives to the rim kept the Celtics in control. Coach Joe Mazzulla, noticing Brown’s momentum, kept him on the court for the entire first quarter alongside Tatum, with Boston emerging with a narrow 31-29 lead.
By halftime, Brown had tallied 20 of his eventual 37 points, giving Boston a comfortable 65-54 lead. Tatum, however, struggled to find his rhythm. His shots missed the mark, and he ended the night with five turnovers, contributing to Boston’s handling woes.
For all of Boston’s offensive highlights, though, their turnover problems left the door wide open for Atlanta, who kept inching closer as the game progressed.
Hawks Overcome Absences with Hustle
Without their primary playmaker in Trae Young, the Hawks were forced to adjust, emphasizing paint scoring and second-chance opportunities to keep up with Boston’s offense. Their success was surprising, given their roster challenges. Daniels filled the void impressively, scoring 28 points and adding six steals that disrupted Boston’s flow.
- Dyson Daniels led the Hawks with 28 points and 6 steals.
- Onyeka Okongwu added a critical tip-in to seal the win.
- Jalen Johnson, with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, recorded a triple-double.
The Hawks’ resilience was evident in their late-game surge, capped by that Okongwu tip-in, which cemented Atlanta’s first lead since the first quarter and silenced Boston’s hopeful crowd.
A Lackluster Second-Half Atmosphere
For much of the game, TD Garden’s usual buzz seemed muted. Missed shots, loose passes, and a rhythm-disrupting series of turnovers set a slower, almost lethargic tone on both sides. The crowd’s energy spiked only briefly, with the loudest cheer coming just before halftime when Payton Pritchard was brought in for a hopeful buzzer-beater. Though the play didn’t pan out, the spark was enough to reignite Boston fans—if only for a moment.
When Derrick White found Brown in a half-court desperation pass with 0.4 seconds left, Jalen Johnson fouled Brown unexpectedly. The resulting free throws extended Boston’s halftime lead to 65-54, but that boost proved temporary.
Looking Ahead: Celtics’ Group Stage Challenge
After this opener, the Celtics face an uphill battle to secure their spot in the NBA Cup’s elimination round. With matchups against the Wizards, Cavaliers, and Bulls still to come, Boston will need more than flashy dunks and scoring bursts to advance. The focus will likely shift back to tightening their defense and cutting down on those costly turnovers.
Coach Joe Mazzulla will likely look to retool his rotations as well, balancing Brown and Tatum’s minutes to maintain momentum without overextending either star. Boston’s path forward will require a recalibrated approach if they hope to capture the NBA Cup while keeping their eyes on the larger prize—a return to the championship stage.
The loss to Atlanta may serve as a wake-up call. For a team with championship aspirations, there’s no time to dwell on a tough opener. As they set their sights on Washington, Boston will look to refine its strategy and, hopefully, rediscover the form that took them to last season’s playoffs. The clock’s ticking, and Boston’s journey to the NBA Cup has just begun.
