Celtics Fall Short Against Hawks in NBA Cup Opener
Boston, MA – The Boston Celtics suffered a narrow defeat to the Atlanta Hawks, losing 117-116 in an underwhelming performance during the NBA Cup opener on Tuesday night. The Celtics, who entered the game with high expectations, let a solid mid-game lead slip away, culminating in a frustrating second-half collapse.
Jayson Tatum, despite tweaking his ankle toward the end of the match, expressed disappointment regarding the team’s performance. “We didn’t play well enough to deserve the win, and they did,” he said post-game. The Celtics held a 65-54 lead at halftime but faltered as Atlanta capitalized on defensive lapses, allowing numerous easy layups in the third quarter.
With Hawks’ star point guard Trae Young sidelined, the Celtics still struggled defensively, allowing Atlanta to dominate with 20 offensive rebounds and capitalize on 20 turnovers committed by Boston. Coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the Celtics’ lack of cohesion, attributing their struggles to Atlanta’s physicality and ball pressure.
Jaylen Brown pointed out the team’s careless approach, emphasizing a need for better synchronization in the future. Both Tatum and Brown, who contributed to 11 turnovers, agreed that defensive improvements are essential as the season progresses. “We got some stuff to clean up,” Brown stated, looking ahead to upcoming challenges.
Despite the loss and concerns regarding his ankle, Tatum confirmed he would be ready to play against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. The Celtics aim to bounce back as they embrace the journey of the new season and seek to rectify their mistakes.
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Photo credit www.boston.com
