The Celtics blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter to lose 119-117 in Game 5 to the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night at TD Garden.
Despite Jaylen Brown finishing with 35 points on 15-of-23 from the field and 4-of-7 from behind the arc, to go along with seven rebounds and five assists for the C's, it was Trae Young's night as he hit a 30-footer with 1.8 seconds left to play and stave off elimination for the visiting team.
"I just had to trust in what I've done my whole life and shoot it with confidence," Young said in his postgame presser after dropping 38 points (14-of-33), 13 assists to extend the Hawks season.
Atlanta playing without a suspended Dejounte Murray -- their second best scorer -- got 22 points from John Collins on 4-of-9 made 3-pointers, while Bogdan Bogdanovic added 18 points and six rebounds as a starter.
Jayson Tatum was 8-of-21 from the floor, including 1-of-11 from 3-point range to net 19 points, but had eight rebounds and eight assists. Derrick White chipped in 19 points and Malcolm Brogdon had 14 points off the bench for the Celtics -- who lead this best-of-7 series 3-2.
Boston dominated for three quarters, outscoring the Hawks 60-38 in the paint and 24-8 in transition points -- taking a 92-82 advantage into the final frame.
Atlanta used a 18-7 run to grab their first lead of the second half (114-113) with 1:39 remaining, as Young scored nine-straight points, including a technical foul free throw that was called on Tatum.
Following an alley oop dunk to Robert Williams on a Tatum lob to briefly go ahead (115-114), Marcus Smart was called for a foul on Young at halfcourt and the Hawks All-Star knocked down two more free throws.
White made a pair from the charity on the next possession to once again give Boston a one-point lead (117-116) with 7.1 seconds left, setting up Young's game winning deep 3 over Brown to silent the home crowd.
"We had some boneheaded plays, some fouls. Gave them some opportunities to get going," Brown said in his postgame comments. "We just gotta finish the game."
The Hawks outscored Boston 37-25 in that fourth period after trailing for the first 47:21 of the game.
The Celtics will look to wrap up the series in Game 6 at State Farm Arena Thursday night, as TNT has the tip-off at 8:30 ET.
Game Notes:
Boston was 53.3% from the field, including 12-of-38 (31.6%) from deep, while the Hawks were 46.9% from the floor and 19-of-41 (46.3%) from long distance. The Celtics won the rebound battle 43-34 and handed out 31 assists (nine turnovers) on 49 baskets to Atlanta's 26 dimes (nine turnovers) on 45 made shots.
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