Celtics fall 102-90 to Hawks in first Summer League loss

The Boston Celtics lost 102-90 to the Atlanta Hawks in the team’s first loss of the Las Vegas Summer League, notably without 2025 draftees Hugo Gonzalez or Amari Williams.

Both teams were 2-0 and part of a six-member group of undefeated LVSL teams heading into the game. Following the loss, the Celtics are 2-1, and only the Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers remain undefeated.

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The Celtics started 2025 draftee John Tonje, 2026 first-rounder Chris Cenac Jr. and second-rounder Dillon Mitchell, Curtis Jones, and Tucker DeVries. Boston did not play Gonzalez or Williams, who started both of the team’s first two games but watched from the bench today on the back end of a back-to-back.

The Hawks starters included Isaac McKneely, Gabe Madsen, Isaiah Wong, Devon Higgs, and Henri Veesaar.

Unlike the Celtics’ first two games in Vegas, they got off to a hot start against the Hawks.

DeVries, a 6’7″ forward who went undrafted this year, immediately hit a pair of three-pointers to put Boston up before Atlanta even scored. John Tonje also hit a couple shots in the first quarter, including one from distance, for 5 early points. Celtics rookies Cenac and Mitchell also got a pair of buckets between them.

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However, the Hawks kept pace and took a 20-17 lead with about three minutes left in the opening quarter, thanks to 9 points from Kobe Johnson (who hit all of his first four shots), 8 points from Veesaar (who hit his first three shots, including two three-pointers), and 6 points from Higgs.

Milos Uzan, one of Boston’s best Summer League players so far in Vegas, came off the bench again and scored a couple buckets to help keep it close.

Nevertheless, the first quarter ended with the Hawks ahead by 4, 29-25.

Mitchell got the second quarter scoring started with a nice dime to Hank Morgan, then hit a 14-foot jumper to briefly tie the game up at 29-29.

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Unfortunately, Boston’s offense fizzled out in the second frame, while Atlanta’s remained hot. Veesaar hit his third three-pointer to give the Hawks a lead again, then Johnson cut into the paint for a…

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Publish date : 2026-07-14 00:12:00

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