Tatum scores 32, helps Boston hold off Atlanta for win
Jayson Tatum had seven 3-pointers and scored 32 points to help the Boston Celtics hold off the Atlanta Hawks 112-107 on Friday night.
It was Tatum’s eighth consecutive game with at least 20 points. Enes Kanter added 16 points and 15 rebounds as Boston posted its sixth consecutive win.
Atlanta led at halftime, despite having only nine players available and playing without Trae Young, Deandrew Bembry, Cam Reddish and Bruno Fernando. But the Hawks struggled to make shots in the second half.
They got within 110-107 with 41.3 seconds to play on a dunk by John Collins. The Hawks got the ball back with 18.3 seconds left, but Kevin Huerter and Brandon Goodwin both came up empty from 3. Romeo Langford corralled the rebound, was fouled and hit both of his ensuing free throws.
Collins led Atlanta with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Huerter finished with 25 points.
The Celtics were also missing starters with Jaylen Brown (right ankle sprain), Gordon Hayward (left foot soreness) and Daniel Theis (right ankle sprain) all sitting out.
The Hawks also didn’t have trade deadline acquisitions Clint Capela, Dewayne Dedmon and Skal Labissiere, who hadn’t yet joined the team as they awaited their deals to be officially completed.
The Celtics took advantage, jumping out to a 21-7 lead, which included 17 combined points by Tatum and Walker.
BOSTON —
But Boston’s second unit of Semi Ojeleye, Grant Williams, Vincent Poirier, Brad Wannamaker and Tremont Waters shot just 1 of 8 from the field over the final 6:46 of the opening quarter. Atlanta finished the period trailing 28-26, getting 11 points from John Collins and 10 from Kevin Huerter.
The Hawks outscored the Celtics 29-26 in the second quarter and took a 55-54 lead into halftime. The Celtics responded, outscoring Atlanta 22-11 over the final 7:29 of the third quarter to take an 87-73 lead into the fourth. The Hawks shot just 6 for 21 from the field (five turnovers) in the third.
Hawks: Celtics:
Sunday.
Celtics: TIP-INS
Fell to an Eastern Conference-worse 6-22 on the road with loss.
Improved to 35-9 when scoring 100 or more points.
HONORING CARTER
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge presented Atlanta’s Vince Carter with a plaque prior to the game congratulating him on his “22 season Hall of Fame career.” The plaque included a photo of Carter — then with the Raptors — shooting a jumper over Paul Pierce. It also included logos of the eight NBA teams the 43-year-old Carter has played for during his career.
Later, Celtics fans erupted in cheers when he checked into the game midway through the first quarter.
UP NEXT Hawks:
Host Knicks on
At Oklahoma City on Sunday.
The Celtics’ Grant Williams (right) and Hawks’ De’andre Hunter vie for a rebound during the first half Friday.
Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg is back for the World Series champs after signing a big-money new deal during the offseason.
With the significant exception of Anthony Rendon’s departure in free agency, and one key addition to what was a shaky bullpen for much of last season, the Washington Nationals head to spring training with mostly the same squad that won the World Series.
Once again, they are counting on being led by a star-studded rotation featuring Max Scherzer, the re-signed Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin, and they’re hoping that young slugger Juan Soto can continue on the trajectory that has him on the verge of stardom at the age of 21.
When the Nationals hold their first workout for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida — at a facility they share with the team, the Houston Astros, they beat for the championship last October — there will be plenty of familiar faces. The lone key exception: Will Harris, a righty reliever who just so happened to give up Howie Kendrick’s go-ahead homer in Game 7.
“The core of this team is still back. We can all look each other in the eyes and know, when it counts, we can all count on each other,” Scherzer said, “and we’re a bunch of winners.”
WASHINGTON — NEW LOOK
Losing Rendon is a big deal. He was one of the top all-around players in baseball and the fulcrum for Washington’s lineup. He was an All-star and third in NL MVP voting in 2019, when he batted .319 with 34 homers,