Hawks ride strong first half to win over Celtics / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Credit Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Huerter hit the first five shots he took and scored all of his 19 points in the first half to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 110-99 win over the visiting Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

Player of the Game EFF 25 John Collins Points 20 Accuracy 9-13 Rebounds 11 Assists 1

Huerter was listed as questionable after leaving Atlanta's Monday game early due to hamstring tightness. However, he was in the starting lineup and helped the Hawks win their third consecutive game.

Atlanta's John Collins had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and reserve Cam Reddish added 19 points. The Celtics double-teamed Trae Young most of the game, and that limited him to 18 points on 4-of-12 shooting, but he contributed 11 assists.

Boston's Jayson Tatum made five 3-pointers and scored 34 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists. Grant Williams added 18 points, Dennis Schroder scored 15 and former Hawk Al Horford had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Atlanta improved to 6-1 at home and has won 13 straight home games against Eastern Conference opponents, tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history and the longest such active streak in the NBA.

The game was tight until the Hawks went on a 14-3 run late in the second quarter. Atlanta expanded the lead to 56-44 when Collins received a pass from Young and scored on an easy layup with 52.4 seconds left in the period.

The Hawks were up 58-49 at halftime.

Boston cut the deficit to 70-66 on a basket by Tatum, only to have Bogdan Bogdanovic drop in consecutive 3-pointers to give Atlanta its 10-point lead back with 4:31 to go in the third quarter. Atlanta built the margin to 14 points and led 91-77 to start the final quarter.

The Celtics played without Robert Williams III, who was sidelined due to left knee soreness, and Jaylen Brown, who missed his fifth straight game because of a right hamstring strain. Boston has alternated wins and losses over the past four games.

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