Hawks dominate Celtics with balanced scoring, securing their fourth straight win and climbing Eastern Conference standings.
The Atlanta Hawks are on a roll at the moment and picked up their fourth consecutive victory on Wednesday against the Boston Celtics. One of the better all-around performances by the Hawks led to a 117-106 victory to improve to 24-25 on the season, and within striking distance of being .500 once again.
With the win, the Hawks jumped the Chicago Bulls for ninth place in the Eastern Conference and now sit just one game back in the win column of the sixth seed. With the All-Star break and trade deadline looming, every result is starting to carry added weight.
Atlanta set the tone almost immediately. The Hawks shot close to 70% from three-point range through the first 11 minutes of the game, building a 20-point cushion by the end of the first quarter. That early surge proved critical, giving Atlanta enough separation to withstand multiple Boston runs later in the night. The Hawks entered the second quarter with a 38-18 lead and carried a 60-44 advantage into halftime.
It was another night of balanced scoring for Atlanta. Six different Hawks finished with 13 or more points, continuing a recent trend of offensive depth. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the way with 21 points, staying hot after a strong stretch of games. Jalen Johnson added 16 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while Dyson Daniels posted a complete stat line with 15 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and five steals.
Atlanta’s defensive activity played a major role, particularly against Jaylen Brown. Johnson pointed to Daniels’ impact on that end after the game, emphasizing how disruptive the Hawks were throughout the night.
“I think Dyson did a hell of a job on Brown,” Johnson said. “Last game he wasn’t playing. Dyson is a difference-maker for us, and tonight showed a huge reason why. Cutting his water off tonight kind of messed up the rhythm, and we were just disruptive all night.”
One of the game’s most pivotal moments came late as Boston tried to claw back. Brown drove into the lane and made contact with Onyeka Okongwu, striking him in the mouth and knocking out his teeth. Officials upgraded the initial offensive foul to a Flagrant Penalty One after review. Okongwu briefly returned from the locker room to shoot free throws before exiting the game.
Brown addressed the play afterward, expressing concern for Okongwu.
“Just being aggressive like I always am,” Brown said. “Just a basketball play. It’s unfortunate. Okongwu’s a good player. It wasn’t intentional. I know it’s going to be a long day at the dentist. I hope he has a good recovery.”
Atlanta also generated momentum through hustle plays. With 5:39 remaining in the first quarter, Daniels poked the ball away from Brown, leading to a scramble sequence that ended with C.J. McCollum tracking down a loose ball and finding Luke Kennard, who knocked down a corner three on the second chance.
Alexander-Walker provided the dagger late in the fourth quarter, banking in a left-handed three with 1.3 seconds left on the shot clock to effectively ice the game. Afterward, he reflected on the moment and the path that led to it.
“I think it’s something I’ve done my whole life,” Alexander-Walker said. “When you do the small things, do what it requires to win, and treat the game with the respect it deserves, I believe you get rewarded with things like that.”
Daniels also spoke about his offensive approach as his confidence continues to grow.
“I just got to continue to trust myself, work on my game,” Daniels said. “Shoot it when I’m open, get to my floater, create for my teammates — wherever I can impact the game.”
Atlanta was once again without Zaccharie Risacher, while Kristaps Porziņģis missed another game for Boston. Even so, the Hawks continue to find success with their current starting group of Onyeka Okongwu, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Corey Kispert.
The win at TD Garden could serve as a significant momentum swing for Atlanta. The Celtics have given the Hawks trouble in recent matchups, and this result further reinforces Atlanta’s ability to win on the road, something the team has done consistently throughout the season.
The Hawks return home Thursday for the second half of a back-to-back, hosting the Houston Rockets at State Farm Arena before heading to Indiana to close out the January slate on the 31st.