Dejounte Murray put on a performance for the ages on Thursday night, willing the Atlanta Hawks to a thrilling 123-122 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics. In a game with serious playoff implications, Murray poured in a career-high 44 points, including the game-winning jumper in the final seconds of overtime 

The win marked Atlanta's second over Boston in just four days, a sign that the Hawks (currently holding the 10th seed in the East) could pose a serious threat to the Celtics (the East's #1 seed) in a potential first-round playoff matchup.

Murray Takes Over in Overtime completing Career-High

With the game tied at 112 at the end of regulation, Murray took over in overtime, scoring all 11 of Atlanta's points in the extra period . After Jaylen Brown put the Celtics ahead with a jumper with just 6 seconds remaining, Murray answered with a clutch shot of his own over Jrue Holiday to secure the win for the Hawks.

"I'm just built for those moments," Murray said after the game, shooting a remarkable 18 for 44 from the field. "I'm a confident guy."

Hawks Overcome Injuries

The win is even more impressive considering the depleted Hawks roster. Trae Young and Jalen Johnson have both been sidelined with injuries, and De'Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu were also out for Thursday's game. Yet, Atlanta has managed to win four games in a row despite these setbacks.

This victory sends a clear message: the Hawks aren't giving up on their playoff hopes. While they currently hold the final play-in spot, they're determined to climb the standings and make some noise in the postseason.

"We're not tanking," Murray said, addressing pre-game speculation about his possible absence due to injury. "We're not trying to lose, we're trying to win games and see how high we can get." 

Celtics Look Ahead to Playoffs

For the Celtics, the loss stings a little, but it doesn't derail their dominant season. They've already clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference and can use the remaining games to fine-tune their playoff rotations.

The Celtics will certainly be looking to avoid a similar fate if they meet the red-hot Hawks again in the first round of the playoffs. With Murray playing at an MVP level , Atlanta is a team no one wants to face.

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Image credit of NBA