Okongwu Takes Elbow From Jaylen Brown, Loses Teeth But Shows Grit in Hawks Win
Onyeka Okongwu’s night ended with a bloody mouth, a trip to the free-throw line, and a whole lot of dental work ahead - but it also ended with a win.
Midway through the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game at TD Garden, the Hawks center took a brutal elbow to the face from Celtics star Jaylen Brown. Brown was trying to power through a double-team from Okongwu and Dyson Daniels when his right elbow caught Okongwu square in the mouth.
The result? At least two teeth knocked loose - which Okongwu later showed off on social media - and a flagrant 1 foul assessed to Brown.
The play was a turning point. Boston, trailing but still within striking distance, lost momentum as Okongwu, bleeding but unshaken, returned to the court and hit one of two free throws.
On the next possession, Daniels threw down a putback dunk to stretch Atlanta’s lead to 109-92 with just over six minutes left. That was enough for Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla to wave the white flag and pull his starters.
After the game, Brown addressed the incident, calling it an unfortunate accident.
“Just being aggressive like I always am,” Brown said. “Just a basketball play.
It’s unfortunate. Okongwu is a good player.
I know from my own experiences with a fractured face and chipped teeth, that [stuff] is a hassle. It wasn’t intentional, and I know it’s going to be a long day at the dentist tomorrow, so hopefully he has a good recovery.”
Brown’s reputation as a physical, downhill player is well-earned, and this was a classic example of high-intensity basketball turning chaotic in a split second. But credit to Okongwu for his toughness - not just in absorbing the hit, but in staying locked in and finishing the game.
“He’s tough,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said postgame. “He took quite a shot.
It’s a good thing that dentistry as a profession is... I don’t know what he’s going to need, but he’s pretty banged up.
I told him he’s still handsome, but it’s a good thing that people can repair his teeth, because he’s going to need some work.”
Since stepping into the starting role in late November, Okongwu has been a steady presence for Atlanta, filling in for the oft-injured Kristaps Porzingis. He’s missed just two games all season, and his physicality in the paint has become a key part of the Hawks’ identity on both ends of the floor.
There’s no word yet on whether the dental damage will sideline him, but knowing Okongwu’s track record, it’d be unwise to bet against him gutting it out. The Hawks will hope that the only thing he’s missing next game is a couple of teeth - and not time on the court.