Jayson Tatum scored 29 points to go with 10 rebounds and six assists, powering the Celtics to a 119-106 win over the Atlanta Hawks to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. The Hawks built an early 11-point lead, only for the Celtics to outscore them by 24 from that point on.
The Hawks started hot, jumping out to a 22-11 lead, on the strength of some balanced scoring. After that, the Celtics closed out the first quarter on a 17-3 run to take a 28-25 lead into the second quarter.
Robert Williams gave the C’s an offensive spark off the bench with a 3-for-3 quarter, while Malcolm Brogdon’s half-court heave at the buzzer went down to put the Celtics ahead entering the second. The Celtics also tightened up their defense after the Hawks’ early run with four steals and two blocked shots as a team.