Celtics roll to 15th win in row
Boston Celtics’ Kyrie Irving dribbles against Atlanta Hawks’ Dennis Schroder, of Germany, in the second quarter of their game in Atlanta.
ATLANTA – Kyrie Irving appreciates what he calls “the innocence of the game” during Boston’s 15-game winning streak.
In his first season with the Celtics after demanding a trade from Cleveland, Irving is enjoying the torrid start because everything feels so new.
“Most of us have never been on a winning streak like this,” he said. “I don’t know if we even know how to pay attention to all the hoopla that goes on in terms of the excitement of it. I just think that every single game we take it as a challenge.”
Irving scored 30 points, Jaylen Brown added a career-high 27 and the Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks, 110-99, on Saturday night.
In other results, Golden State rallied past Philadelphia, 124-116; Utah blasted Orlando, 125-85; Houston routed Memphis, 105-83; Dallas thumped Milwaukee, 111-79; Portland overpowered Sacramento, 102-90; and the Charlotte Hornets whipped the Los Angeles Clippers, 102-87.
Back in Atlanta, at 15-2, Boston leads the NBA and has matched the best start in franchise history through 17 games. The winning streak is the club’s fifth-longest, four behind the 2008-09 team that set the franchise mark.
Dennis Schroder had 23 points, and Kent Bazemore added 19 for Atlanta. The Hawks are an Eastern Conference-worst 3-13, but they still had plenty of adrenaline following a 46-point victory over Sacramento – the biggest in franchise history – two nights ago.
“I still feel like we can make some big things happen this season,” Schroder said. “We just have to stay together as a team.”
The Celtics erased a 16-point deficit to take their first lead on Brown’s 3-pointer midway through the third. It marked Boston’s fourth win when trailing by at least 16 during the streak.
It’s been a tough week for Brown, a 21-yearold whose best friend Trevin Steede passed away this week in metro Atlanta. Brown and Streede went to Wheeler High School together in nearby Marietta. He spoke publicly about Steede a couple of days ago and skipped talking to reporters after beating the Hawks.
“He’s not alone,” Irving said. “That’s the spirit in the truest form. (Brown) may not say much but he knows we’re all here for him.”
Irving, playing with a protective mask to protect a minor facial fracture, ended the game with a right-handed finger-roll layup, delighting a few thousand Boston fans who were chanting “MVP! MVP!” in the fourth quarter.
In 31 minutes, Irving made 10 of 12 shots, including five 3-pointers, and hit all five of his free throws.