Both the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins looked to continue win streaks Friday night, as the Celtics looked to make it eight straight and the Bruins looked to win their fourth straight.
At TD Garden in Boston, the Celtics made it eight in a row rolling past the Atlanta Hawks 129-108.
The Celtics led by 23 at the end of the first quarter, before the Hawks cut it to 11 before halftime. The hosts took control again in the third quarter leading by as many as 26 in cruising to the win, and also was the eighth straight game Boston would score 110 points or more.
Kyrie Irving led the way for 18-10 Boston with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Jayson Tatum added 22 points, including 15 in the third quarter. Marcus Morris had 20, Gordon Hayward 19, and Daniel Theis 18. Kevin Huerter had 19 points for 6-22 Atlanta, while Kent Bazemore and Alex Len added 13 a piece. John Collins also had his sixth straight double double for the Hawks with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Boston will be at Detroit Saturday night at 7 pm.
At PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, the Boston Bruins rallied from a two goal deficit to tie the game in the third period, but would eventually fall 5-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Goals by Derek Grant, Phil Kessel, and Zach Ashton-Reece had the home Penguins up 3-1 after two periods. Chris Wagner and David Kreijci tied it for the Bruins scoring 54 seconds apart at 7:08 and 8:02 of the third to make it 3-3. Pittsburghs Jake Guentzel though would get the game winner at 10:47, before Ashton-Reece tacked on an empty net goal with five seconds left to lead the 14-11-6 Penguins.
Wagner had an assist to go along with his goal for a two point night, and Sean Kuraly also added two assists. Jaroslav Halak made 23 saves in the loss, and Boston (17-11-4) was 0-2 on the powerplay. Ashton-Reece had a three point night adding an assist to his two goals, and Sidney Crosby had two assists. Former UNH Wildcat Casey DeSmith stopped 48 shots in the Penguins net, and Pittsburgh was 0-1 on the powerplay. Boston will host Buffalo Sunday at 5 pm.
