\n<\/p>\n
Hunter’s three pointer with 10.1 seconds left gave Atlanta a match-winning lead against the Celtics, who have the best record in the NBA with 57 wins and 15 losses and have already secured the Eastern Conference’s top seed.<\/p>\n
Jayson Tatum scored on a tip-in with 1.2 seconds left for Boston, but the Hawks managed to run out the clock to end the Celtics’ nine-game winning streak.<\/p>\n
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 22 points for Atlanta, who remain 10th in the East, while Dejounte Murray finished with 19 points, 15 assists and five rebounds.<\/p>\n
No team had successfully come back from a 30-point deficit against the team with the NBA’s best record since the Los Angeles Lakers did so against the Dallas Mavericks in December 2002.<\/p>\n
It was also the Hawks’ biggest comeback win in the play-by-play era, which began in 1997-98.<\/p>\n
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said his team paid the price for not killing the game off and Atlanta’s physicality had caused Boston problems in the second half.<\/p>\n
“It’s a good lesson,” he said. “Credit to them for battling back. They were extremely physical as soon as the ball got past half-court and I thought that messed up our offence, and they made us work for everything.”<\/p>\n
The teams will meet again in Atlanta on Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n