Celtics' Centers Shine in Defeat Against Hawks

A trio of Celtics centers made the most of their increased playing time in a tough loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:03am

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An abstract, cubist-style illustration depicting a basketball game broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant green, orange, and blue, capturing the energy and movement of the players on the court.The Celtics' backup centers stepped up with energetic performances, providing a bright spot in the team's tough loss to the Hawks.Boston Today

Despite a 112-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Boston Celtics received notable contributions from their centers, including Luka Garza, Amari Williams, and Charles Bassey. Garza had 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while Williams and Bassey made an impact on the defensive end with key blocks and rebounds. The Celtics were missing starting center Neemias Queta due to injury, but the performances of their backup centers provided a bright spot in the defeat.

Why it matters

The Celtics' loss to the Hawks was a tough one, but the strong showings from their reserve centers demonstrated the team's depth and ability to adapt when key players are out. These performances could earn the backup centers more playing time and opportunities going forward, which will be important as the Celtics push for a deep playoff run.

The details

Luka Garza started in Queta's absence and immediately capitalized, scoring 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting and grabbing 9 rebounds. Amari Williams had 6 rebounds in just over 6 minutes of action in the first quarter, while also making a key defensive play by swatting a layup attempt. Charles Bassey, on his second 10-day contract with the Celtics, made his presence felt with multiple blocks, including rejecting a dunk attempt by Jonathan Kuminga and a layup by Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

  • Garza scored 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting in his opening shift.
  • Williams had 6 rebounds in the first quarter, just 2 fewer than the Hawks had as a team.
  • Bassey entered the game in the second quarter and quickly made an impact with his shot-blocking.

The players

Luka Garza

A fifth-year center for the Boston Celtics who stepped up with a 20-point, 9-rebound performance in the loss to the Hawks.

Amari Williams

A rookie center for the Boston Celtics who made an impact on the glass and with a key defensive play in the first quarter.

Charles Bassey

A fifth-year center on his second 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics, Bassey provided a defensive presence with multiple blocks in the second quarter.

Neemias Queta

The starting center for the Boston Celtics who missed the game due to a right thumb sprain.

Joe Mazzulla

The head coach of the Boston Celtics who had to reprimand some of his young players for a defensive lapse during the game.

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What they’re saying

“This Amari sequence >>>”

— Boston Celtics, Twitter account

“Big Buffalo is ballin 💪”

— Boston Celtics, Twitter account

“Bassey gettin BUSY 😤”

— Boston Celtics, Twitter account

What’s next

The Celtics will look to bounce back from this loss as they continue their push for a high playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. Their backup centers have shown they can step up when called upon, which will be important as the team navigates the remainder of the regular season and prepares for the postseason.

The takeaway

While the Celtics came up short against the Hawks, the strong performances from their reserve centers, including Luka Garza, Amari Williams, and Charles Bassey, provided a silver lining and demonstrated the team's depth and ability to adapt when key players are out due to injury.