Boston Celtics 5th quarter: Ball mastery of Kyrie Irving on display in Atlanta

The Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to nine straight games Monday night with a 110-107 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Chalk another one up in the win column for the Boston Celtics. Behind a 35-point night from Kyrie Irving, the team notched its ninth in a row with a 110-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks Monday night.

The Celtics needed every bit of Irving and he came through.  After the team went down 103-101 late in the fourth quarter, the four-time All-Star put his team back on top 104-102 with a 3 from the right wing with 1:37 remaining.  From there, Boston was able to shake off the Hawks.

Rookie Jayson Tatum scored 22 points and Al Horford added 15 points and 10 rebounds in the game.  However, the night simply belonged to Kyrie Irving.

His ability to ball handle and weave his way through and around defenders were on display Monday night.

Take a look at the play below in which he shook and confused Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder.

That was just one of many plays Irving created simply with his dribbling.  Most importantly, however, remains how he gets his teammates involved with his passing.  With an ability to take over a game when he sets his mind to it, the way he has been finding open teammates have been a thing of beauty.

"“It’s a beautiful game when it’s played the right way,” Irving said following the game.  “It’s not going to look good every possession, but you’ve got to be able to move onto the next play.  I understand that better than most.”"

Monday night marked the first time Kyrie Irving has scored 30-plus points as a member of the Boston Celtics and it certainly won’t be his last.

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What was said after the game

Following the game, Kyrie Irving talked about the clutch 3-pointer Jayson Tatum nailed with under a minute left in the game with the team up just a point.  In another display of the team moving the ball, the rookie was found in the corner with an open look.  He calmly nailed it.

"“That pass has to be made,” Irving said, via Masslive.com.  And (Tatum) has to shoot it.  And if he doesn’t shoot it, then I’m going to be right in his face telling him that he needs to (bleeping) shoot it.”"

Irving went on to say Tatum has to step up in those types of moments.  So far in his young NBA career, he is showing he has what it takes. 

Next: The 5 faces of the Boston Celtics: The coach, the stars and the future

Next up, the Los Angeles Lakers

The Boston Celtics travel back home to take on Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night.  The team will look for its 10th straight win against a Lakers team that has been playing well lately.