ORLANDO — The Celtics are off to the second round of the playoffs.
Jayson Tatum sizzled with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists while Jaylen Brown added 32 as the Boston Celtics eliminated the Atlanta Hawks with a 128-120 victory in Game 6 of their first-round series Thursday night at the State Farm Arena.
After squandering a 13-point Game 5 lead in Boston, the Celtics closed out stubborn Atlanta 4-2.
This time it took more than just Boston’s resident All-Stars and a lethal 1-2 punch to eliminate the Hawks, who knotted the count at 110-110 in the final 6:24 left in the fourth quarter.
Marcus Smart finished with 22 points while Malcolm Brogdon had 17 off the bench as the Celtics shot 50 percent from the field (47 of 94) and 42.9 percent from 3-point territory (18 of 42).
Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 and 10 assists but was less efficient from the field, canning just 9-of-28 shots overall and 4-of-12 from 3. John Collins chipped in 16 and DeAndre Hunter had 20 and six rebounds. Clint Capela scattered for 10 points and 10 rebounds.
After a hot first quarter start where they tallied 34 points, the Hawks cooled down and eventually shot only 44 of 94 from the field (46.8 percent) and 15-of-35 from long distance (42.9 percent).
Even in defeat, the Hawks were unbowed.
“Quin is the future,” Young said of his new head coach. “With him here, this city’s going to win a championship.”
