Okongwu game winner lifts Hawks over Boston Celtics 117-116

On By Littum

The Hawks shocked the Boston Celtics in the first game of the Emirates NBA Cup. The Hawks would play without Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Bufkin, De’Andre Hunter and Vit Krejci. Trae Young was added to the injury report and was unavailable for this game.

After two scoreless possessions, Jalen Johnson knocked down a three-pointer to open the game. The Celtics put together some ugly misses from deep early, and the Hawks held an 11-8 lead before the first timeout. Daniels stepped up in Young’s absence, scoring seven points to go with two assists and three steals in the first quarter.

The second quarter continued to run smoothly. The Celtics took a 51-42 lead before Quin Snyder used a late timeout to rally the troops. Down 63-54, Jalen Johnson punished Jaylen Brown in the final seconds to send him to the free throw line. The half ended 65-54 in the Celtics’ favor, with Johnson and Capela scoring twice.

The Celtics extended the lead to 13 before the first timeout of the second half. Later, he attempted just six points after Larry Nancy Jr. hit his fourth three-pointer and Johnson picked up his fourth foul of the game. The Hawks entered the fourth quarter down just seven points.

An 11-6 run to start the fourth quarter brought the Hawks within two points with 7:49 left in the game. Jalen Johnson tied it right after.

The teams traded back and forth, with Dyson Daniels coming forward for several moments. He had 24 points, seven assists and six steals after that three-pointer.

The Celtics led by three points with under a minute remaining thanks to back to back three-pointers, but the Hawks refused to go away.

Trailing 116-115, the Hawks had possession and a chance to win this game with 12.7 seconds left. Daniels missed a floater, but Onyeka Okongwu was there to put it back in to take a one-point lead. They were just one stop short when the Celtics had the ball and six seconds to score.

The Hawks forced a turnover on inbounds, then turned it over on inbounds themselves. Jaylen Brown missed the potential game winner and the Hawks got a win. Dyson Daniels had a career night and Jalen Johnson had a triple double.