On this week’s NBA Cup opener, Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson led Atlanta because the injury-plagued Hawks upset Boston.
Boston shocked by Atlanta
The Celtics had been 16-point favorites in opposition to the Hawks on Tuesday evening, so it is secure to say nobody anticipated Atlanta to win in Boston, particularly with out the injured Trae Younger. should not have.
In Younger’s absence, Jalen Johnson has exploded for the Hawks, with the 22-year-old recording his second profession triple-double. Johnson grew to become the second-youngest participant in historical past to file a triple-double at TD Backyard, becoming a member of LeBron James.
However Johnson wasn’t the one one on fireplace in Boston, as Dyson Daniels additionally scored a career-high 28 factors within the win. Daniels had 28 factors, seven assists, three rebounds and 5 steals in 41 minutes.
Dyson Daniels steals 36 bases in first 10 video games
That is essentially the most since Allen Iverson in 2003. pic.twitter.com/uo1w6u2HW8
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 13, 2024
Boston definitely did not lose with out a battle, with Jaylen Brown scoring a season-high 37 factors and Derrick White including 31 factors of his personal in an in depth loss within the cup sport.
Requested after the sport what went fallacious within the loss, Brown stated of the group’s turnovers: I anticipated an excessive amount of to win. I imply, it confirmed.
“Our turnovers. Having 20 turnovers is just not typical of us…We weren’t in sync like we often do, so we now have to enhance on that, and I’ve to enhance as properly. Don’t.”
Jaylen Brown:
Me and JT must be higher. As a group, we had 20 turnovers, him and I mixed for 11. pic.twitter.com/EoCLxSnmOX
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) November 13, 2024
The Celtics are certainly not out of the cup sport, however will probably be a protracted and uphill climb to succeed in the quarterfinals in Las Vegas this yr.
After the loss, it appears unlikely that Boston will high the group this yr, and the sport will solely get more durable for Joe Mazzula’s group, who will face the undefeated 12-0 Cavaliers within the second spherical.
After all, the reigning NBA champions may advance to the quarterfinals as one of many second-place groups.
