DeAndre Hunter scored 24 points, including a decisive 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds left, and the patchwork Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 30-point deficit to beat the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 120-118.
The Celtics won 20 of 22 games, bringing their nine-game winning streak to State Farm Arena. The momentum certainly didn't look dangerous when Al Horford's 3-pointer put Boston ahead 68-38 with about four minutes left in the first half. Monday night (Tuesday AEDT).
But the Hawks clung to the last play-in spot in the East and were one of the most disappointing teams in the league, with All-Star guard Trae Young and three other key players out with injuries. The comeback started out of nowhere.
It was Atlanta's biggest upset victory since at least the 1997-98 season, when the NBA began recording detailed play-by-play records.
The Hawks were able to pull off their most improbable victory of the season against a team that entered the night 25 and a half games ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings.
For Atlanta, Bogdan Bogdanovic had 22 points, Murray had 19 points and Vit Krejci had 16 points.
The Celtics lost despite Jayson Tatum scoring 37 points and Jaylen Brown adding 24 points.
In Houston, Jock Landale earned bragging rights as the Rockets beat fellow Australian Duop Reese's Portland Trail Blazers 110-92.
It was a nine-game winning streak for the Rockets, their longest winning streak since 2019.
At 36-35, Houston is just 0.5 games behind Golden State for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Landale, who replaced suspended Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., had a season-high 17 points and nine rebounds.
Jaylen Green led all Rockets scorers with 27 points.
Reese had eight points and four rebounds for Portland.
Dalano Banton led the Blazers with 28 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, and Scoot Henderson added 15 points.
In San Antonio, Jeremy Sawchan made a crucial 3-pointer in the final minute, had 26 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, and the home team defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-102.
For Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 36 points and Kevin Durant added 29 points.
In Denver, the Nuggets defeated the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 128-103, with Nikola Jokic scoring 29 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Christian Braun scoring 17 points.
Jokic, who left the game with Denver leading by 21 points and 27 seconds left in the third quarter, had two assists, coming close to his 23rd triple-double of the season.
Lamar Stevens scored a season-high 19 points for the Grizzlies, and Scottie Pippen Jr. added 17 points.
In other games, the Cavaliers defeated the Hornets 115-92, the Knicks defeated the Pistons 124-99 and the visiting Wizards defeated the Chicago Bulls 107-105.
The Nets, Mavericks, Kings and Pacers also had wins.
