Payton Pritchard scores 36 as short-handed Celtics halt Hawks surge in 109-102 win

Pritchard’s scoring and Boston’s third-quarter swing decide a tight matchup at TD Garden

Payton Pritchard delivered 36 points off the bench Friday night, lifting the Boston Celtics to a 109-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden on March 27, 2026. The result improved Boston to 49-24 and handed Atlanta, 41-33, a loss in a game that swung sharply after halftime.

Boston played without Jaylen Brown, increasing the offensive burden on Jayson Tatum and the team’s second unit. Tatum responded with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Pritchard supplied the shot creation and perimeter pressure that tilted the game in Boston’s favor.

How the game turned

Atlanta led 60-55 at the break after opening with 29 points in the first quarter and matching Boston’s physicality in the half court. The Celtics’ response came out of the locker room: Boston won the third quarter 32-22 to take control, then held Atlanta to 20 points in the fourth to close it out.

The Celtics’ advantage was built less on a single run than on a steady rise in shot quality. Boston finished at 47% from the field and hit 14 three-pointers, while Atlanta shot 39% overall. The final margin reflected a game in which Boston repeatedly generated second chances and limited Atlanta’s efficiency late.

Efficiency, rebounding, and the turnover story

Two statistical themes defined the matchup: rebounding and turnovers.

• Boston won the rebounding battle 52-35, a significant gap that created extra possessions and helped offset a turnover-heavy night.

• The Celtics committed 16 turnovers compared with Atlanta’s four, a disparity that typically decides games. Boston compensated by controlling the glass and shooting more efficiently.

Atlanta’s ability to protect the ball kept it within striking distance, but the Hawks’ missed shots and Boston’s rebounding edge reduced the payoff from those extra takeaways.

Key individual performances

Pritchard’s 36 points came on 13-of-23 shooting, and his shot-making stabilized Boston through stretches when the Hawks’ defense loaded up on Tatum. For Atlanta, Jalen Johnson led the way with 29 points and six assists, providing consistent rim pressure and playmaking.

Boston trailed at halftime but outscored Atlanta by 12 across the final two quarters, turning a five-point deficit into a seven-point win.

What it means going forward

With the regular season entering its final stretch, Boston’s win added separation near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. For Atlanta, the loss underscored a recurring challenge against elite defenses: generating efficient half-court offense when transition chances are limited. In this one, the Celtics’ third-quarter control and rebounding proved decisive.