Even though the playoffs haven’t started yet, Thursday night at State Farm Arena felt a lot like a possible sneak peek at the next round. When the two teams play next month, it could be #1 vs. #8. The Celtics lost to the Hawks 123-122 in overtime.

It was head coach Joe Mazzulla’s first time starting Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis in the order he likes since March 7th, when the team lost in Denver.

This week, a lot of attention has been paid to how well the Celtics play in big moments. With just over five minutes left in the game, they were put to the test again. Atlanta got a four-point lead, but White and Tatum scored back-to-back threes to tie the game.

 After two missed De’Andre Hunter free throws, Bogdan Bogdanovic answered with a big three of his own. Tatum then grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back, and Brown made a tough mid-range pullup. After getting an offensive board, Bogdanovic made another big three to tie the game. It’s become a habit for the Hawks to get 17 offensive rebounds, which helped them score 28 second-chance points more than Boston.

Fans have also been upset that Tatum chose to go along with the last possession of regulation and missed a fadeaway jumper that would have sent the game to OT.

In extra time, Dejounte Murray made a career-high 44 points by making 18 of 44 shots, including three straight mid-range jumpers over Porzingis and another from behind the line.

Brown had the shot that could have won the game when it was on the line. Tom Haberstroh talks about why that might have been the right choice.

Tatum made it to the end with 31 points, White and Porzingis added 22 and 20, and Brown, who is from the area, scored 18.

Saturday and Monday are the last two games of the Celtics’ six-game road trip. They will be in New Orleans.