NBA

“Toughness and grace” fueled the Celtics’ hawkish streak in the second division

ballervisions 2026年1月18日

In just 12 minutes, the Boston Celtics outscored their entire second half by going up 52 points in the second quarter, passing the Atlanta Hawks and entering the NBA record books on Saturday night.

Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser were the leaders of Boston’s offense, shooting 19 of 25 from the field and draining 11 3-point attempts, tying the NBA record set by the Oklahoma City Thunder for most points scored in a quarter. The options weren’t there for Atlanta from there, as the Hawks faced a 31-point deficit before the Celtics closed out a 132-106 victory on Saturday night.

“I thought we played at a high level,” head coach Joe Mazzella told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston.

Brown and Hauser combined for 30 points in the second quarter, with Hauser going 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. Off the bench, Anfernee Simons added 11 points, becoming the third Celtic to reach double figures at the end of the frame. Boston outscored Atlanta by 10 goals, committed a few turnovers, and saw every player finish with a positive plus-minus — while the Hawks all finished poorly in the second half.

Boston’s 52-point streak in the second quarter was the most ever by a road team, falling just five short of the all-time record of 57 set by the Phoenix Suns in 1990.

“Obviously, we hit all the shots, but I think it was our ability to come out and run,” continued Mazzella. “Stop, get out and run.”

The Hawks scored 51 points in the first half and were not in the same league as the Celtics in terms of efficiency. Atlanta shot 35.4% to Boston’s 62.5%, and the scoreboard did not see another lead change after the first quarter, ballooning to a 43-point advantage over the Celtics at the end of the third quarter.

Mazzulla noted that, as amazing as the second-quarter avalanche was, preserving the idea that brought it to life is even more important. Instead of focusing on reducing Atlanta’s defense to its bare minimum, Boston is looking forward. There is no time to pat yourself on the back or scroll through social media to check all the records they have set. Rather, it is about understanding that the result does not change the method. That’s normal.

“It’s just a balance of toughness and grace,” Mazzella told reporters. “It’s a long season, so just because we played well tonight, that doesn’t mean anything tomorrow. Or if we lose tonight, that doesn’t mean anything tomorrow. You just have to keep that. As long as we can come tomorrow, not knowing whether we win or lose, we can just get better. I think the guys are doing a great job – whether we lose the next game or win. You’ve got to keep going.”

Brown’s one-man 41-point clinic, as powerful as it was, took a backseat to the second-quarter scoring storm. Everyone who hit the floor contributed, even if it meant putting the ball in the basket. Rookie Hugo González grabbed four rebounds, Derrick White dished out seven of his 12 assists, and the team forced three steals, dominating both sides of the floor throughout the frame.

It was a high-profile display of the core values Mazzulla has instilled in the locker room, bolstering Brown’s credibility as an MVP candidate on a Boston team of unproven contributors.

“That second quarter, when we play in sync and together, it’s hard to stop,” Brown told reporters, via CLNS Media.

Meanwhile, the Hawks didn’t always agree. Atlanta scored just 55 points in the second half, shooting a better 38.9% on 54 field goal attempts. The divot Brown, Hauser, and the Celtics dug proved too deep for the Hawks to escape.

Nearly two weeks removed from the trade of point guard Trae Young, coupled with the absence of center Kristaps Porziņģis, the Hawks entered the night in an already difficult situation – made even worse when both teams met on the big court for an opening hearing.

It was an irony that Brown led more than just the pass defense.

“Sometimes you get tired, physically, and that’s what makes you miss,” Brown told reporters. “It’s not really a defense sometimes. Sometimes you have a hard time trying to catch your breath. So I try to focus on my breathing and go out and be aggressive.”