The Boston Celtics (48-24) return to TD Garden to face the Atlanta Hawks (41-32) in a matchup that’s already delivered both extremes this season - a demolition in Atlanta, and a humbling loss on Boston’s home floor that never really gave the Celtics a chance to recover.

That contrast is what makes this one interesting.

Because when Boston is right, this matchup hasn’t been particularly close.

The Celtics hung 132 points on Atlanta earlier this season, including a 52-point second quarter that essentially ended the game before halftime. Jaylen Brown controlled that night from the opening tip, setting the tone in his hometown and turning it into a runaway.

But the rematch told a very different story.

Atlanta walked into TD Garden and flipped the script, jumping Boston early with hot shooting and never letting the Celtics back into rhythm.

It wasn’t just the loss - it was how it happened.

A 20-point first-quarter deficit, a lopsided three-point battle, and an offense that never found its footing. The Celtics spent the rest of the night chasing a game that was effectively decided in the first 12 minutes.

That’s the tension heading into Friday.

Boston is coming off one of its most complete wins of the season - a statement victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder (57-16) that showcased its ceiling on both ends. But this Hawks team has already proven it can disrupt that rhythm, especially when the Celtics fall behind early and lose control of the pace.

There’s also a subtle but important layer to this matchup.

Even with all the fireworks in the first two meetings, neither side has actually seen the other at full strength - and that includes Kristaps Porzingis, who wasn’t available in either game before ultimately being moved at the trade deadline. So while his presence isn’t part of this matchup now, it’s also not something that’s been factored into how these teams have played each other to this point.

Instead, this series has been defined by style and execution.

When Boston is dictating pace, moving the ball, and winning the three-point margin, it has overwhelmed Atlanta in a way few teams can replicate. That 52-point second quarter wasn’t just a hot stretch - it was a reflection of what the Celtics look like when everything is connected.

But when that rhythm breaks, even briefly, the door opens. Atlanta has already shown it can capitalize on that.

The Hawks’ ability to pressure the perimeter, generate early offense, and flip the three-point math turned the last meeting into a wire-to-wire loss for Boston - one where the Celtics never had the chance to settle in.

That’s the balancing act heading into Friday night.

The Celtics don’t need to be perfect to win this game. But against a team that’s already proven it can punish slow starts and capitalize on mistakes, they do need to be sharp from the opening tip.

Because in this matchup, more than most, the tone gets set early - and it tends to stick.

Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics Information

Game Date: March 27, 2026
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV Channel: NBC Sports Boston (Boston) & FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (Atlanta)
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Boston) & 92.9 The Game (Atlanta)
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Live Stream: Fubo, NBA League Pass

Missed any of Wednesday night’s win over Oklahoma City (57-16)? Here’s everything you need to know:

If there was a defining stretch in this game, it belonged to Jaylen Brown.

After starting 0 for 5 in the first quarter, Brown didn’t just recover. He took control.

He scored 31 points, with 14 coming in a dominant third quarter that flipped the game for good.

He lived at the line (12 of 14), attacked mismatches, and dictated tempo in a way that’s become increasingly familiar this season.

We’ve said it before, but nights like this keep reinforcing it:

That’s an MVP-caliber performance.

While Brown closed it, Jayson Tatum started it.

Boston’s offense was stuck early, but Tatum’s shot-making in the second quarter stabilized everything.

He finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists - and, more importantly, looked fully comfortable playing within the flow.

His minutes (35) continue to climb, and so does his rhythm.

That matters more than anything else right now.

This is where the game truly shifted.

Boston dropped 39 points in the third quarter and outscored Oklahoma City by a wide margin over the final 24 minutes.

The ball movement sharpened, the spacing returned, and the shot-making followed.

They finished 18 of 41 from three and scored 99 points over the final three quarters.

When the offense looks like that, it’s almost impossible to defend.

Beyond the stars, Boston won this game the way contenders do:

In the details.

They dominated the glass (56-40) and completely controlled second-chance opportunities, holding a staggering 19-2 edge in second-chance points.

Against a team as disciplined as Oklahoma City, that’s the difference between competing and winning.

This wasn’t just another March game.

The Thunder came in with the league’s best record and a 12-game win streak.

They left with a reminder.

“I really wanted that win,” Brown told the media after the game.

And it showed.

For a team chasing postseason positioning, and still measuring itself against the league’s elite, this checked a lot of boxes.

More than anything, it felt like confirmation:

When Boston is right, it can beat anyone.

I think we already knew that, though.

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.