Saturday night’s matchup between the Celtics (25-15) and Hawks (20-23) carries an extra layer of context, even if the most obvious storyline won’t take the floor.

Kristaps Porzingis, traded to Atlanta after two seasons in Boston, will be sidelined against his former team, dealing with left Achilles tendinitis that has kept him out throughout January.

It’s a frustratingly familiar script for a player whose talent has never been in question, but whose availability has consistently shaped the teams around him.

For the Celtics, Porzingis’ absence serves as a reminder of why Boston ultimately chose flexibility over upside. His time in green featured stretches of elite two-way impact, but also long interruptions - including the mysterious viral illness that derailed his spring in 2025 - that made nightly dependability impossible to project. That calculus - along with his contract - played a role in Boston’s decision to move on, even knowing the ceiling he provided when healthy.

Now with Atlanta, the concerns remain.

The Hawks envisioned Porzingis as a matchup nightmare capable of spacing the floor and anchoring their half-court offense. Instead, they’ll once again adjust on the fly, leaning on smaller lineups and perimeter scoring against a Celtics team that just rediscovered its edge in a gritty comeback win in Miami.

Boston enters the night tied near the top of the Eastern Conference and searching for consistency after a brief two-game skid. Atlanta, hovering around .500, is still trying to define itself amid injuries, rotation changes and trades.

Porzingis won’t be part of this chapter, but his absence still looms large.

In many ways, this game reflects the diverging paths of two teams that evaluated the same player and reached very different conclusions about risk, reward, and reliability.

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Information

Game Date: January 17, 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: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Live Stream: Fubo & NBA League Pass

Missed any of Thursday night’s win over the Heat? Here were some takeaways:

If the Celtics didn’t have Anfernee Simons on Thursday night, this game likely never reaches the fourth quarter, making his early contributions all the more crucial.

With Boston’s starting guards quiet for most of the night, Simons provided the only consistent offense early. He scored 11 points in the first quarter to halt Miami’s surge and continued to deliver as the Celtics searched for rhythm.

Then came the takeover. Simons poured in 16 points in the fourth quarter - including 11 of Boston’s first 15 in the frame - for a season-high 39.

The outburst set a franchise record for points off the bench and marked the turning point.

The thought of trading Simons has officially left the building, folks.

Boston hasn’t faced many moments this season where things felt genuinely uncomfortable.

Thursday qualified.

After losing three of four entering the night, the Celtics found themselves down big, on the road, and playing without much defensive cohesion. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard struggled to generate offense, and the Heat controlled the pace for most of the evening.

Boston didn’t unravel. Instead, it leaned on its bench, tightened its defense late, and executed in the clutch. The Celtics stayed calm - a season-long trait - and steadily worked back.

Brown’s night started unevenly.

Returning from a back issue, he committed four first-half turnovers and played only 13 minutes, sitting out the final 7:43 before the break.

But after the extended rest, he ignited his game.

Brown attacked assertively in the third quarter, pouring in 15 points and reestablishing himself as a downhill force. He totaled 27 points, 21 after halftime, and played a crucial role in Boston’s late-game offense alongside Simons.

It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was necessary.

There’s a reason why this guy is a true candidate for MVP.

None of the late-game heroics would’ve been required if Boston had started sharply.

The Heat opened with a 28-9 blitz in the first seven minutes, exploiting Boston’s sluggish defense in transition and on the perimeter. Miami consistently drove to the rim and found open shooters, while the Celtics failed to match their effort.

Boston eventually corrected course, but the early lapses forced them into a game of catch-up all night. It was a reminder that even for a veteran group, focus still matters - especially on the road.

The Celtics will aim to correct those slow starts when their road trip continues Saturday night in Atlanta (20-23).

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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.