The 9-2 Boston Celtics open their NBA Cup campaign and aim for a three-game winning streak on Tuesday, November 12, when they take on the visiting 4-7 Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks enter the NBA Cup without leading scorer Trae Young due to right Achilles tendonitis, adding to an already extensive injury list. Boston’s fifth home game of the regular season will take place on the colored green home court of the NBA Cup.

Jaylen Brown opened the scoring for Boston with a three-pointer from the top of the key. JB then added a layup and a free throw as he opened the game and scored Boston’s first six points.

Boston struggled to shoot the ball from long range, going just 3-12 from three to open the game. Jaylen Brown, who played the entire first quarter, guided the Celtics through the first quarter with 16 points. A late corner three from Sam Hauser gave Boston a narrow lead at 31-29. Boston struggled to control the dribble, allowing Atlanta to score 18 paint points in the quarter.

Coach Mazzulla played Tatum and Brown the entire first quarter and they both sat out the opening portion of the second quarter. To start the second quarter, the team looked to Pritchard and White to keep the scoreboard ticking. Both players hit 3-pointers in a stretch of play where it appeared the coaching staff was trying out some possible new lineup combinations. Mazzulla had played a total of ten players halfway through the second quarter.

With five minutes left in the half, Boston started to ramp up the intensity. An energetic blocked shot from Queta got the crowd involved. Boston started making its three-pointers late in the second quarter as the team made 6-13 threes. Al Horford hit his first two triples and finished the half with 6 points, while Derrick White added 14 points. White was involved in the highlight of the half, with a perfectly timed lob pass to Jaylen Brown, who cut in from the wing for a two-handed rim rocker.

David Butler II-Imagn images

After an entertaining first half of NBA Cup basketball, Atlanta’s young players kept the game within striking distance as Boston led by 11 points, 65-54. Atlanta’s physicality in the first half was highlighted as they outscored Boston 33-22, including 11 offensive boards.

The third quarter wasn’t too pretty to watch, Atlanta forced quite a few deflections as Dyson Daniels had four steals after three and Boston’s turnover count was high at 14. Midway through the third quarter, Atlanta went on an 18-7 run as Boston’s largest lead of 15 points began to evaporate. Atlanta defeated Boston behind the quick shooting of Larry Nance, who was 4-5 from three, by 16 points after three quarters. Nance was certainly a surprise for Atlanta after registering a DNP a week ago when these two teams last met. The third quarter would end at 91-84 for Boston.

It would be more of the same to start the fourth as Atlanta fought back into the game trailing by just two points. An offensive rebound from Onyeka Okongwu, followed by a mid-range jumper from Jalen Johnson, tied the scores for the 10th time of the game after seven minutes.

Derrick White’s three-point shooting kept Boston in the game in the fourth, as he would score a season high in points with 31. Not to be outdone, Jaylen Brown would also score a season high in points, adding 37 of his own points . . With the score tied at 108 apiece, Derrick White stepped in a long three-pointer as the Boston crowd finally found its second half vote.

Jaylen Brown then tried to finish off the Hawks with a three-pointer of his own and a fade-away elbow jumper. But Atlanta came out big in the final seconds when Okongwu was tipped in with seven seconds left to take the lead at 117-116. Boston then passed the ball out of bounds, in what would be a 20th team turnover. Jaylen Brown forced another turnover and Brown had a chance to win with a last-second shot, but it went wide of the bucket.

David Butler II-Imagn images

Atlanta hustled and played Boston hard all game. Atlanta finished the game with 20 offensive Atlanta rebounds and Dyson Daniels forced 6 steals and scored 28 points. Jalen Johnson would also close the game with a triple double for the Hawks.

The Boston Celtics’ next opponents in Group C in the NBA Cup will be a big test for the team when they take on the conference leading Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the tournament on Tuesday, November 19. The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards round out five teams in Group C.