Trae Young’s long 3 lifts Hawks to 119-117 win over Celtics

BOSTON (AP)— His team trailing by a point and its season on the brink, Hawksstar Trae Young got all the encouragement he needed in the huddleduring his team’s timeout.

“I just hadto trust in what I’ve done my whole life and shoot it withconfidence,” Young said.

He did, andkept Atlanta’s season alive.

Young had38 points and drained a long go-ahead 3-pointer from beyond the topof the key with 2.8 seconds left to help the Hawks cap a latecomeback and beat the Boston Celtics 119-117 Tuesday night.

The victorytrims Boston’s lead in the first-round playoff series to 3-2 andsends the teams back to Atlanta for Game 6 Thursday.

Young had16 points in a frenetic fourth quarter, getting support from histeammates who collectively knocked down a series-best 193-pointers.

JohnCollins added 22 points for Atlanta, who played without DejounteMurray, who was suspended for one game for bumping officialGediminas Petraitis after the end of Game 4.

With Murrayout, Young picked up the offensive slack and helped Atlanta keeppace early, scoring nine of Hawks’ first 13 points. By the time thefinal quarter arrived, Collins got a sense of familiarity watchinghis teammate.

“I knowwhat time it is. It’s Ice Trae time. He’s clutch. He wants to be inthat moment. He wants the big shot,” Collins said. “It’s what hedoes.”

JaylenBrown scored 35 points and Jayson Tatum added 19 for the Celtics,who were outscored 37-25 in the fourth quarter. It came afterBoston had dominated for three quarters. For the game the Celticsheld a 60-38 scoring edge in the paint and 24-8 in transition.

A sloppyfinish made it all for not.

“We hadsome boneheaded plays, some fouls. Gave them some opportunities toget going,” Brown said. “We just gotta finish the game.”

DerrickWhite put the Celtics in front 117-116 with 7.3 second remaining,setting up a final possession for the Hawks. The ball went to Youngin the backcourt, who dribbled into the front court and knockeddown a 29-footer over Brown.

The Celticsbobbled their initial inbounds pass and had another chance with 0.5seconds left, but Tatum’s fading 3-point try found only air as timeexpired.

Brown, whohas been recovering from a late-season facial fracture, wentunmasked for most of the Celtics’ victory in Game 4, saying hefound energy after taking it off during a 31-point scoringnight.

He wore itagain for Game 5 and maintained the same intensity, leading allscorers with 23 first-half points.

Atlantatrailed by 13 before tying the game at 111 on a 3-pointerYoung.

As theHawks began to mount their run, fans inside TD Garden beganpeppering him with expletive-laced chants.

“Whenpeople do that I think that’s just total respect. I mean, theyaren’t doing that to everybody,” he said.

Bostonpushed the ball up the court and got the ball to Robert Williams,who dropped in a layup. He was fouled but missed his ensuing freethrow.

The scorewas still 113-111 when Young drove and was fouled by Al Horford.Tatum took issue with the call and was whistled for a technicalfoul. Young hit all three free throws to put the Hawks in front114-113.

Brownturned it over, then misfired on a driving layup. Atlanta’s nextpossession ended in a jump ball that was controlled by Boston.Williams scored on a layup to put the Celtics back in the lead with25 seconds left.

Young wasfouled again with 15.8 seconds remaining and connected on two morefree throws.

The Celticscalled a timeout. The ensuing play wound up with White driving tothe basket. He was fouled and went to the line for what appeared tobe the game-winning free throws.

Young hadother plans.

“You cantell, you look in his eyes and there was a calm,” Hawks coach QuinSnyder said. “Sometimes that happens in the middle of a storm.”

MR. 4THQUARTER

Young nowhas 60 fourth-quarter points in the series.

TIP-INS

Hawks:Started collectively better from 3-point range, hitting 6 of 11 inthe opening 12 minutes to take a 30-27 lead into the secondquarter. But they shot just 3 for 10 from beyond the arc in thesecond period as Boston nudged in front.

Celtics:Had a two-point jumper by Horford upgraded to a 3 after review with8:07 left in the second quarter to tie the game at 41. Boston thenoutscored Atlanta 25-17 the rest of half and led 66-58 at thehalf.