01/28/26 09:14:00
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01/28 21:09 CST Alexander-Walker scores 21 points, Hawks beat Celtics 117-106
to avenge blowout loss
Alexander-Walker scores 21 points, Hawks beat Celtics 117-106 to avenge blowout
loss
By KEN POWTAK
Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) --- Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points, Jalen Johnson had 19
points and 14 rebounds and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 117-106 on
Wednesday night to avenge a lopsided home loss.
Onyeka Okongwu added 17 points, Dyson Daniels had 15 and Corey Kispert 13 to
help the Hawks win their fourth straight.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 21 points. He shot 9 for 20, missing all five of
his 3-point attempts.
The Hawks hit 42.9% of their 3-pointers (18 of 42) and had 29 assists on 45
baskets. Boston was 9 of 34 from beyond the arc.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder was asked before the game if his team would remember a
132-106 loss at home Jan. 17 in the clubs' last meeting. He replied: "You want
to feel it."
It looked like his team did from the start. They were locked in defensively,
opening a 21-point lead late in the opening quarter on Alexander-Walker's
3-pointer.
They held a 60-38 edge on Kispert's 3 from the top in the second quarter before
Boston closed the first half with an 8-0 spree.
The Celtics made a few brief spurts in the second half but didn't reduce their
deficit below 12 points. Coach Joe Mazzulla removed most of his starters and
many fans headed for the exits with the Celtics trailing 115-96 with 4
minutes left.
Former Celtic Kristaps Porzingis, part of Boston's 2024 NBA title-winning team
who was traded to the Hawks during the offseason as Boston worked for salary
flexibility toward the tax line, remained sidelined with left Achilles
tendinitis and wasn't on the trip.
Up next
Hawks: Host Houston on Thursday night.
Celtics: Host Sacramento on Friday night.
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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
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