Celtics hold off Hawks behind Jayson Tatum’s 34 points

ATLANTA (AP) — Jayson Tatum led a balanced attack by scoring 11 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics overcame Atlanta’s fourth-quarter comeback bid and beat the Hawks 134-125 on Saturday night.

The Celtics opened a six-game trip by having six players score in double figures. Jaylen Brown had 24 points. Tatum added 14 rebounds.

Trae Young had 35 points and 13 assists for Atlanta, which could not maintain momentum following back-to-back wins at Washington. The Hawks remain eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.

With 1:25 remaining and Boston leading 129-121, Young and Marcus Smart had to be separated after the two were entangled and fell to the court under the Celtics’ basket. Smart was called for an initial foul before a lengthy review by the officials called both players for technical fouls and ejected Smart. Young made two free throws to cut the deficit to six points.