Celtics Suffer Brutal Collapse Against Hawks

You won’t believe what just happened in Atlanta sports lovelies.The Celtics were flying high, up by 30 points in the second quarter against the Hawks. Jayson Tatum was balling out, Jaylen Brown was filling the bucket, and it looked like smooth sailing to an easy W. But then the third quarter hit, and disaster struck. The Hawks came roaring back, erasing the entire lead in 12 minutes of absolute domination. The Celtics had no answers, wilting under the pressure. By the final buzzer, the Hawks had pulled off the unthinkable – coming back from 30 down to stun the Celtics 120-118. Get comfortable and let me walk you through this wild game.

Crunch Time Execution Goes Atlanta’s Way

The Celtics had this game in the bag — until they didn’t. Up 30 points in the first half, Boston cruised into the locker room feeling good. But the Hawks came out swinging after the break, slowly chipping away at the lead until an explosive third quarter gave them a slim advantage heading into the fourth.

Third Quarter Collapse

What happened in that third quarter? The Celtics offense sputtered and their defense collapsed. The Hawks started hitting shots and Boston had no answer. Before they knew what hit them, a 30-point lead had evaporated into thin air. Tatum and Brown went cold while Atlanta’s balanced attack ignited. The Celtics would spend the rest of the game playing catch-up.

Trading Blows

The final quarter was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to pull away. The lead changed hands multiple times as both sides traded free throws and jumpers. With under two minutes left, the game was still up for grabs

Bogdanovic Strikes

That’s when Bogdan Bogdanovic nailed a clutch three-pointer to give the Hawks a one-point lead. It was the shot that broke Boston’s back. Atlanta went on a quick 7-2 run right after that triple, opening up a four-point lead with just seconds remaining. The Celtics didn’t have enough time to mount a comeback.

De’Andre Hunter led the team in scoring 24 points. Bogi chipped in 22 points while DJ  added 19 points.

Lessons Learned

This brutal loss reinforces the age-old lesson that no lead is safe in the NBA. The Celtics got complacent with a huge first-half advantage and the Hawks made them pay. This improbable victory shows their resiliency and will give them confidence down the stretch. What a thrilling comeback and collapse all wrapped into one.

So there you have it. After starting so hot, the Celtics unraveled in epic fashion to let this one slip away. They’ll be kicking themselves after this brutal collapse. But hey, chin up Green Teamers. Plenty more basketball ahead when the team face the Hawks again in a back to back contest. As for the Hawks, they showed some serious heart and resolve. And this W is definitely something they can build on going forward.

Up next: Atlanta’s homestand continues when the team face the Trailblazers on Wednesday, Green Team on Thursday Mar 28., and the Bucks on Sat Mar. 30. Alright, that’s all for now hoop heads. Til next time, this is your faithful basketball blogger signing off.