The Boston Celtics have already clinched the top seed in the East. They better hope the Atlanta Hawks don’t come out of the play-in.
DEJOUNTE MURRAY PUTS ATLANTA ON TOP WITH 0.1 LEFT IN OT!
— NBA (@NBA) March 29, 2024
Get to the NBA App: https://t.co/SKcVXNJBFv pic.twitter.com/6rNqjhjl9E
Dejounte Murray had a career-high 44 points, along with the game-winning shot in overtime, as the Hawks beat the Celtics for the second straight time.
Monday, the 10th-place Hawks came back from down 30 points to win. Thursday’s game was a back-and-forth affair that wasn’t settled until Murray hit his jumper, his 10th and 11th points of the extra period coming on his 44th shot of the game.
After the game, Murray thought Kobe Bryant would have appreciated his 44-shot, 44-point effort.
"I don’t wanna take that many shots, but I know Kobe [Bryant] would be proud of me.”
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 29, 2024
Dejounte Murray after taking 44 shots in tonight's win over the Celtics pic.twitter.com/pmJaBBT6TJ
That may have stung Celtics star and Kobe superfan Jayson Tatum even more than the defeat, only the third time all season Boston has lost consecutive games. Tatum shot 4-of-12 in the fourth quarter and missed three three-pointers, including the potential game-winner.
WE ARE GOING TO OT
— CourtSideHeat (@courtsideheat) March 29, 2024
Jayson Tatum missed the game-winning shot #NBA #DifferentHere #TrueToAtlanta
pic.twitter.com/YsqrAy9MND
After the game, Tatum acknowledged to reporters that he’s missed a number of game-winners this season, but insisted, “I really do enjoy being in those situations.”
He’d likely enjoy it even more if the Celtics don’t have to face Murray and the Hawks in the playoffs.
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