Sports

NBA: Dejounte Murray scores in final second of overtime as Atlanta Hawks beat Boston Celtics

Dejounte Murray prepares to shoot at the basket

Dejounte Murray was traded to the Atlanta Hawks from the San Antonio Spurs in June 2022 [Getty Images]

Dejounte Murray scored in the final second of overtime to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 123-122 win against the Boston Celtics.

Murray, 27, scored a career-high 44 points, including all 11 for the Hawks in overtime at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Hawks also beat the Celtics on Monday, coming from 30 points down to win 120-118.

The Celtics are top of the Eastern Conference with the Hawks in 10th.

“That’s the best team in the league – we competed,” Murray said.

Boston were on a nine-game winning streak prior to the back-to-back defeats by Atlanta but they are guaranteed to be in the upcoming season-ending play-offs as the top seed in the East.

Elsewhere, the New Orleans Pelicans picked up a 107-100 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at Smoothie King Center.

Zion Williamson scored 28 points with CJ McCollum adding 25 to get the hosts over the line as Giannis Antetokounmpo top-scored with 35 points for the Bucks.

“[Williamson] is putting the team on his shoulders,” said Pelicans coach Willie Green.

“That was a gutsy win on our home floor. It was a good defensive performance by us. We played with force from start to finish.”