ATLANTA — Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, Jayson Tatum added 21 and the Boston Celtics held off the Atlanta Hawks 110-107 Monday night for their ninth straight victory.
Irving’s 3 from the right wing put the Celtics up 104-103 – the game’s 25th lead change – with 1:37 remaining, and Boston led the rest of the way.
UP NExt
WHO: Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday
TELEVISION: ESPN
Dennis Schroder had 23 points for the rebuilding Hawks, who dropped to 2-9 a night after a surprising two-point win at Cleveland.
Boston improved to 9-2, best in the NBA, and has its longest winning streak in seven years.
Al Horford had 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in his best game against the Hawks. Horford spent his first nine seasons in Atlanta before leaving as a free agent ahead of last season and had totals of 20 points and 17 rebounds in three games against the Hawks.
Irving had his first 30-point game as a Celtic on a night packed with highlights. He dribbled between his legs and behind his back before hitting a floater off the glass from the left baseline to put Boston up 46-44. He had two impressive assists late in the third with long, one-handed passes that led to 3s by Marcus Smart and Tatum, the latter giving Boston a 72-71 lead.
And Irving fed Horford for a dunk that was part of a 13-0 run that put the Celtics up by six.
Boston coach Brad Stevens wasn’t pleased with the ball movement or defense early in the third, storming the floor to call timeout after Atlanta’s Luke Babbit hit a 3 to put the Hawks up 57-54. Irving took charge, either scoring or assisting on 16 straight points. The Celtics gradually pulled away, taking a 10-point lead early in the fourth on Semi Ojeleye’s 3.
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