The Boston Celtics were 25 points clear in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday at TD Garden.
And while the Celtics did not blow up the game, winning a 121-109 victory, that advantage was reduced to just nine points with 3:40 remaining. It was certainly not a resounding end to a dispute that the Celtics dominated during the first half and maintained in the third quarter.
The great Celtics man, Tristan Thompson, for example, was not very happy with the way it all happened. And Thompson left a message for the team after the game.
“So for me, as I told the guys tonight – it’s a good win, but we have 20, 22 points that we have to close,” Thompson told reporters after the game. “These minutes, the last six minutes, these minutes must be dedicated to Tremont Waters, Aaron (Nesmith), Tacko Fall, Carsen Edwards. Those last six minutes should be for those young people.
“It’s our evil and it’s selfish of us with the first and second units that we don’t step on their necks (Hawks) and let them bleed to death because those guys deserve to go over there and have a few minutes,” Thompson continued. “They come every day and work hard, watch us and support us from the bank. It is certain that, when we are awake like this, we take care of the business so that they go out and play and encourage them ”.
Thompson played a valuable role in Friday’s victory over the Hawks, while he and Daniel Theis controlled the painting with their high-low connection.
Thompson, who is playing his first year in Boston, finished with 17 points out of 8 out of 9 on the field. He added five rebounds, three assists and a block as well.
Miniature photo via David Butler II / USA TODAY Sports Images