Pritchard and Tatum help Celtics beat the Hawks 109-102 without Brown

BOSTON (AP) — Payton Pritchard scored 36 points, Jayson Tatum had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 109-102 on Friday night.

Jalen Johnson scored 29 points and CJ McCollum had 21 for the Hawks, who came in 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points but Atlanta's shooting touch faded as the game progressed after a strong start.

Boston played without All-Star guard Jaylen Brown, who was ruled out with Achilles tendinitis.

Behind Pritchard’s spark off the bench and a dramatic swing beyond the arc, the Celtics caught the Hawks after trailing 25-9 in the first quarter. Boston made seven straight 3-pointers during the second quarter, but Johnson and Atlanta went into halftime up 60-55.

Fresh off an overtime victory over Eastern Conference leader Detroit, Atlanta entered the final quarter within striking distance of Boston, which has the East's second-best record. Tatum had a tough night from the field, missing 16 of 24 shots, yet his spinning drive to the rim gave Boston a 97-86 lead with 7:29 remaining.

After getting fouled on a 3-point attempt with time winding down on the shot clock, Tatum sealed it with three free throws that gave Boston a 107-99 lead with a minute left.

The surging Hawks entered Friday with 14 wins in their last 15 games. They had their three-game winning streak snapped after shooting 39% from the field.

Brown missed his eighth game of the season. The Celtics improved to 7-1 without their leading scorer. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said he was day to day.

Hawks: Host Sacramento on Saturday night.

Celtics: Travel to face Charlotte on Sunday.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, top, wrestles for the ball with Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, bottom, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics center during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) celebrates after hitting a 3-point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

TORONTO (AP) — Andrés Giménez drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Athletics 3-2 on Friday night.

Giménez had three RBIs, including a two-run triple in the fifth.

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers hit two home runs, including a game-tying blast off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (1-0) in the top of the ninth, but Toronto used three straight hits off Justin Sterner (0-1) to win it in the bottom half.

Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto singled, went to third on Ernie Clement’s high-bouncing double over third base, and scored when Giménez grounded a base hit up the middle.

Making his major league debut after signing with the Blue Jays in January, Okamoto finished 2 for 3. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat, walked and scored Toronto’s first run of the season in a two-run fifth, then lined his first hit in the seventh.

Hoffman blew the save in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series when he gave up a game-tying homer to Miguel Rojas.

Friday’s tying homer came one batter after Toronto successfully challenged umpire Marvin Hudson’s two-strike call on Nick Kurtz to begin the ninth, with Kurtz called out on strikes.

Before Friday’s game, Blue Jays sluggers George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stood at home plate to address fans, then counted down to the unveiling of a banner celebrating Toronto’s first American League pennant since 1993.

Kevin Gausman set a Blue Jays opening day record by striking out 11 batters in six innings. Gausman allowed one run and one hit.

Gausman didn’t walk a batter in his third career opening day start, his first with Toronto.

Langeliers had the lone hit off Gausman, a solo homer in the fourth.

The A's lost for the fifth time in their past six opening day games.

RHP Dylan Cease makes his Blue Jays debut Saturday afternoon against Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs.

__

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Athletics' Shea Langeliers (23) celebrates his solo home run with Tyler Soderstrom (21) as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (right) looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) holds on to the ball after forcing out Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays Andrés Giménez (0) reacts after hitting a triple against the Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto (left) and Ernie Clement (22) celebrate after they both scored during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics in Toronto on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman reacts after throwing a strikeout against the Athletics during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Friday, March 27, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)