Achi news desk-
After hitting the field in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics have the luxury of using the home portion of the regular season to prepare for the NBA Play-Offs.
However, the Celtics now know they can’t relax if they face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Dejounte Murray scored a career-high 44 points, including a go-ahead jumper in the final second of overtime, to power the Hawks to a 123-122 victory over the Celtics on Thursday night (Friday AEDT).
Murray scored all 11 of Atlanta’s points in the extra period to give the Hawks their second win over Boston in four days in the matchup between teams currently holding the No. 1 and No. 10 seeds in the Eastern Conference.
“That’s a very good team,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Jaylen Brown sank a go-ahead jumper with six seconds left in overtime to give Boston a 122-121 lead, but Murray answered with a jumper over Jrue Holiday.
Prior to the game, Murray was listed as questionable due to lower back soreness.
“I’m just built for those moments,” said Murray, who shot 18 for 44. “I’m a confident guy.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 24 points and De’Andre Hunter had 21 points and 13 rebounds as Atlanta won their fourth straight game to match their longest streak of the season.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis scored 20 points and Brown had 18.
On Monday night, the Hawks trailed by 30 points before rallying for a 120-118 victory over the Celtics.
Boston has the NBA’s best record and has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the East.
Atlanta holds the last playoff spot in the East.
The Hawks would face the Celtics in the first round of the Play-Offs if they reach the Play-In tournament with the ninth or 10th place from the conference.
The Hawks said forward Saddiq Bey, already ruled out for the season, underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
In New Orleans, Zion Williamson scored 28 points and CJ McCollum added 25 as the Pelicans held off the Milwaukee Bucks 107-100.
Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, giving him his 32nd double-double of the season, but his first in 11 games.
Trey Murphy III had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who won despite going just eight of 32 from three-point range and shooting just 39.6 percent (36 of 91) overall.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee.
Damian Lillard scored 20 points for the Bucks, so did Malik Beasley, who hit six threes.
