Atlanta Hawks

Before the bad taste of blowing just NBA history’s 10th-ever 30-point advantage could even leave the Boston Celtics’ mouths, the Atlanta Hawks returned 72 hours later, prepared to prescribe a second dose of late-game reality. Determined to avoid any come-from-behind dramatics in Round 2, Atlanta stayed connected to the league’s eventual champions, trading haymakers in a game that featured 41 lead changes and 14 ties. In a league built on unpredictability, the Hawks left zero guesswork regarding whom the game’s knockout punch would come from: Dejounte Murray. Supported through both an glowing-green light — Murray hustled his way into 44 points on 44 shot attempts, including eight of Atlanta’s nine overtime looks — and a reputation as a trusted crunchtime producer, the 2022 All-Star added to his résumé on March 28, 2024. 6.2 seconds away from leaving State Farm Arena as the hero, Murray deployed his proven crossover-and-pull-up combination against six-time All-Defensive selection Jrue Holiday, securing the 123-122 win. Murray’s career-high night, alongside 18 3-pointers and balanced team scoring helped Atlanta both survive life without one-half of their All-Star backcourt and inch closer to their ultimately-successful goal of securing an Eastern Conference Play-In spot.