Celtics duo leads way as Hawks booted from postseason

Jayson Tatum Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

With apologies to Janet Jackson, Celtics duo helps boot Hawks from postseason

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/28/23

State Farm Arena in Atlanta was supposed to host a Janet Jackson concert on Thursday night. Instead, it played host to Atlanta Hawks fans witnessing the end of their 2022-23 season, courtesy of another dominant effort from the Boston Celtics' dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

After the Celtics' 128-120 series-clinching Game 6 victory over Atlanta, Tatum apologized to Jackson for failing to take care of the Hawks in Game 5, leading to the postponement of her show. While Tatum's comment was good for a laugh after a tougher-than-expected series with Atlanta, ultimately, the story on Thursday was his and Brown's continued success playing together.

Jayson Tatum apologizes to Janet Jackson for the scheduling conflict at State Farm Arena, which caused JJ to postpone her show.

Fortunately, JT and the Celtics put on a show of their own tonight to advance to the conference semis. pic.twitter.com/1KL6Of6Rqp
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) April 28, 2023

Brown led the Celtics in scoring, finishing with 32 points, followed closely by Tatum, who ended the night with 30. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Celtics moved to 23-1 when Brown and Tatum tally 30 points or more apiece in a game (including the postseason)

Thursday's 30-point performance for Tatum also moved him ahead of Paul Pierce for the fourth-most in Celtics postseason history, per NBA History. Tatum trails only Sam Jones (21), John Havlicek (30) and Larry Bird (43) on the franchise list.

JAYSON TATUM DUNK FOR 30 POINTS.
CELTICS ROLLING LATE IN Q4.

8 POINT BOSTON LEAD.

LESS THAN 2 MINUTES ON TNT! pic.twitter.com/cVwOarF7Sb
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2023

HUGE THREE FROM JAYLEN BROWN.
HE'S GOT 32.

TIE GAME WITH 4 MINUTES TO PLAY.

CELTICS CAN ADVANCE WITH A W ON TNT pic.twitter.com/Xno0W4ETBP
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2023

It took longer than many expected, but the Celtics finally dispatched the Hawks with an explosive fourth quarter. After three stanzas, Boston trailed by two points, down 100-98 on the scoreboard, but Brown and Tatum combined for 12 points in the final quarter while the Celtics (as a team) outscored Atlanta 30-20 en route to an eight-point victory.

The Celtics now move on to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will face off against their Atlantic Division rival, the Philadelphia 76ers, for the third time in the postseason since 2018.

Philadelphia advanced past the Brooklyn Nets nearly a week ago, completing a four-game sweep on April 22. However, MVP finalist Joel Embiid, who missed Game 4 against the Nets with a knee sprain, remains questionable for the start of the semifinals.

Boston will host the 76ers for Game 1 on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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