Hawks storm back from 30-point deficit to topple Celtics

ATLANTA — De’Andre Hunter scored 24 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds left, and the resurgent Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 30-point deficit Monday night for an impressive 120-118 victory over the NBA leaders. Boston Celts.

The Celtics had won 20 of 22 and brought a nine-game winning streak to State Farm Arena, a streak that certainly didn’t appear to be in jeopardy when Al Horford’s 3-pointer put Boston up 68-38 with just under 4½ minutes left in the game. the first quarter. half.

But the Hawks, clinging to the last play-in spot in the East and one of the most disappointing teams in the league, launched a comeback out of nowhere with All-Star guard Trae Young and three other key players sidelined by injuries.

It was the biggest comeback for Atlanta since at least the 1997-98 season, when the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play details.

Dejounte Murray put the Hawks ahead to stay within 117-116 with a reverse layup with a minute left. Jaylen Brown missed a desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, and Hunter sealed the score at the other end with a big assist from Clint Capela.

After Murray missed a jumper, Capela grabbed the offensive rebound and spotted Hunter alone at the top of the zone. Even though the shot clock was off and Hunter could have forced the Celtics to foul, he let out an open look from 26 feet.

Nothing more than net.

The Celtics got one more basket off an offensive rebound, but the Hawks took advantage of the final 1.5 seconds to earn their most improbable victory of the season against a team that entered the night 25.5 games ahead in the league standings. Eastern Conference.

It was the first 30-point comeback since the 2021-22 LA Clippers beat the Wizards 116-115 after trailing by 35, according to ESPN’s Stats & Information. Before tonight’s game, teams were 5-2,606 over the last 25 years in games where they were down by at least 30 points.

Atlanta’s comeback began with a 9-0 run late in the first half, which cut the deficit to 74-56 as the teams headed to the locker room.

The momentum carried over into the third quarter, which began with Atlanta winning 19 of the next 23 points to cut the margin to 78-75.

After the Celtics flirted several times with pulling away again, the Hawks finally took their first lead of the night when little-used Wesley Matthews hit a 3-pointer to make it 97-96 with 9:42 left.

Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 22 points and Murray added 19, but it was several players who are normally buried deep on the bench who really boosted the Hawks.

Vit Krejci scored 16 points, including a 3-pointer that left him shrugging at his teammates like he really couldn’t believe what was happening. Bruno Fernando scored 13 points and Matthews hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers.

The Celtics lost despite Jayson Tatum’s 37 points. Brown added 24.

With many green-clad fans cheering them on in Atlanta, the Celtics doubled the home team in the first quarter by taking a 44-22 lead.

Boston made 16 of 24 shots in the opening period, including 5 of 7 from beyond the 3-point arc, while also making 7 of 7 at the foul line.

Tatum finished the half with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.