For the most part, the Boston Celtics’
second-straight loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night was all bad news, particularly after Monday night’s disasterpiece. There was, however, one positive development: the return of guard Jrue Holiday to the starting lineup. Holiday has emerged as the Celtics’ “glue guy” this season, which makes re-signing him a growing priority for the franchise.
Holiday had been absent the last five games with what the team called a “dead arm” issue, a description one normally finds in MLB injury reports. While there were worries that this could keep Holiday on the shelf for an extended period, he later clarified that it was a sprained AC joint that he would return from shortly.
Sure enough, head coach Joe Mazzulla did not hesitate to play Holiday heavy minutes in the overtime loss to the Hawks. In 37 minutes, he scored 13 points along with seven rebounds and five assists. As usual with Holiday, the numbers didn’t tell the overall story as his tenacious defense was invaluable in what ended up being a back-and-forth affair highlighted by a 44-point night from Atlanta’s DeJounte Murray (who, in storybook fashion, capped things off by hitting the game-winner in OT).
