Hawks top Jayson Tatum-less Celtics, extend home win streak to 13

Atlanta Hawks defeat Boston Celtics 112-102 in Monday night matchup.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:49am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics, with players and the court broken down into overlapping shapes and planes of color.The Hawks' home court dominance and the Celtics' struggles without Tatum are captured in this cubist-inspired illustration.Boston Today

The Atlanta Hawks extended their home winning streak to 13 games with a 112-102 victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, while Onyeka Okongwu added 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Celtics were without star player Jayson Tatum due to injury management, and Jaylen Brown had 29 points but shot just 9-of-29 from the field.

Why it matters

This game showcases the Hawks' strong home court advantage, as they continue to dominate at home and climb the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics' loss, despite Brown's efforts, highlights their need to stay healthy heading into the playoffs.

The details

The Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the second quarter, going up 36-30, but the Celtics battled back to tie it at 54-54 at halftime. Atlanta then took control in the third quarter, outscoring Boston 36-22 to take a 90-76 advantage into the fourth. The Hawks' largest lead was 21 points, but the Celtics made a late push to cut the deficit to 8 before Atlanta held on for the win.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 31, 2026.
  • The Hawks have now won 16 of their last 18 games.

The players

Jalen Johnson

The Hawks' forward collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in the win.

Onyeka Okongwu

The Hawks' center recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' guard led his team with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, but shot just 9-of-29 from the field.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star player sat out the game due to injury management.

Luka Garza

The Celtics' center added 20 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with this level of energy and focus at home if we want to make a deep playoff run.”

— Jalen Johnson, Hawks Forward

“Missing Jayson was a big blow, but we have to find a way to win these types of games even when we're shorthanded.”

— Jaylen Brown, Celtics Guard

What’s next

The Hawks will look to extend their home winning streak when they host the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Celtics will try to bounce back when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

The takeaway

This game showcases the Hawks' impressive home court advantage and their ability to win without their opponents' star players. Meanwhile, the Celtics' loss highlights their need to stay healthy and find ways to win even when key players are out.