Sometimes, it just isn't your night. The Boston Celtics found that out the hard way on Wednesday, falling flat in a 117-106 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden. From the opening tip, the energy just wasn’t there, and the Hawks wasted no time taking full advantage.
Cold Start, Hot Hawks
When these two teams met in Atlanta just a week and a half ago, Boston looked like a well-oiled machine. But this time?
The engine never turned over. The Celtics couldn’t find a rhythm offensively, struggling to convert even the clean looks they managed to create.
Meanwhile, Atlanta came out firing - and hitting. The Hawks knocked down seven of their first 10 threes and finished the first half shooting 11-of-23 from deep.
That kind of shooting barrage is tough to weather, even for a team as talented as Boston. Combine that with some costly turnovers, and the Celtics found themselves playing catch-up for most of the night. Every mistake felt magnified, every missed opportunity a little heavier.
Baylor Scheierman Brings the Spark
If there was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating night, it was Baylor Scheierman. The second-year forward brought a jolt of energy when the Celtics needed it most, helping fuel a third-quarter push that briefly gave Boston life.
Scheierman’s impact started with effort - crashing the offensive glass, fighting for second-chance opportunities, and refusing to let the game slip away without a fight. But it wasn’t just hustle. He looked more assertive with the ball in his hands than we’ve seen in recent games, putting it on the floor, attacking the paint, and even initiating offense at times.
It was a glimpse of a more confident, aggressive version of Scheierman - and it couldn’t have come at a better time. His willingness to step up in a tough spot didn’t go unnoticed, and if he keeps playing like this, it’s going to be hard to keep him off the floor.
Bench Brings the Fight
Scheierman wasn’t alone in trying to turn the tide. Joe Mazzulla leaned on his bench to jumpstart the team after a sluggish start to the second half, and that second unit delivered the kind of energy the starters were missing.
The group of Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Sam Hauser, and Derrick White played with urgency, effort, and grit - traits that had been lacking earlier in the game. They didn’t erase the deficit, but they did make things uncomfortable for the Hawks, cutting the lead down and injecting some much-needed life into the building.
It was a reminder of just how deep this Celtics roster can be when everyone is locked in. And while it didn’t translate into a comeback win, the hustle from that group was a silver lining on a night that didn’t offer many.
Final Thoughts
Losses like this happen over the course of a long season. Sometimes the shots don’t fall, the opponent gets hot, and the energy just isn’t there.
But performances like Scheierman’s - and the collective effort from the bench - are what coaches and teammates remember. They’re the kind of moments that can build trust, define roles, and pay dividends down the stretch.
The Celtics will regroup. They’re too talented not to. But Wednesday night was a reminder that even the best teams can get caught off guard - and when that happens, it’s the players who bring the fight that stand out.