Hawks Defeat Celtics in NBA Cup Opener

In a thrilling NBA Cup matchup, the Atlanta Hawks overcame the Boston Celtics 117-116, marking a significant upset despite missing star guard Trae Young. Dyson Daniels led the Hawks with a career-high 28 points, along with seven assists and six steals, while Jalen Johnson recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Celtics, who faced a surprising loss after their previous game, saw Jaylen Brown and Derrick White score season highs of 37 and 31 points, respectively. Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwu scored the game-winning tip-in with just 6.1 seconds left, sealing the victory. The Hawks continued their momentum in their next game by defeating the Washington Wizards 129-117, with Daniels scoring 25 points and contributing defensively. This win improved the Hawks to 2-0 in the NBA Cup, while the Wizards faced their seventh consecutive loss, now standing at 2-9 for the season.