Celtics Stumble Against Hawks in 117-106 Loss

Boston's defense falters as Atlanta's offense heats up at TD Garden

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:31pm

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The Boston Celtics suffered their first double-digit defeat of the 2026 season, falling 117-106 to the Atlanta Hawks at home. Despite a team-high 21 points from Jaylen Brown, the Celtics struggled defensively, allowing the Hawks to score 38 points in the first quarter and 60 in the first half. Atlanta hit 18 three-pointers on the night, just three shy of the most the Celtics have allowed in a game this season.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Celtics to third place in the Eastern Conference standings, behind the New York Knicks. It highlights defensive lapses that the team will need to address as they aim to maintain their position among the conference's elite teams.

The details

The Hawks' balanced scoring attack proved too much for the Celtics, with all five starters scoring in double figures. Boston struggled to slow down Atlanta's offense, which recorded its third straight victory at TD Garden. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla received a technical foul in the second half after a heated exchange with the officials.

  • The Celtics fell to the Hawks on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.
  • The loss was Boston's first double-digit defeat since December 11th.

The players

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' star player, who led the team with 21 points in 29 minutes of play.

Joe Mazzulla

The Celtics' head coach, who received a technical foul in the second half after a heated exchange with the officials.

Sam Cassell

The Celtics' assistant coach, who was nearly thrown out of the way by Mazzulla during the heated exchange with the officials.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The Celtics' defensive struggles against the Hawks highlight the need for the team to shore up its defensive execution as they aim to maintain their position among the Eastern Conference's elite teams.