Kornet will return to a bench role for the Celtics in Friday's game against the Lakers. After starting Wednesday's win against the Clippers, Kornet will assume his usual role off the bench. Boston is getting key players back for this matchup.

The little-used guard got the call when Boston couldn't stop the Clippers' guards. He delivered stout defense and more in an overtime win.

Boston has been inconsistent for weeks — a stark difference from last season’s joyride — but is still among the best defending NBA champions of this century.

Also, after not losing a single game by double digits from the start of the season through the end of December, the Celtics have since suffered defeats of 13, 13, 17 and 21 points, all in their last 10 games. Those also were the only games this season in which Boston failed to score 100 points.

Starting against Atlanta

The Celtics outlasted the severely shorthanded Clippers 117-113 in overtime, getting key contributions from a surprise source.

Dyson Daniels hit a short jumper in the lane with just over a minute left in overtime and Onyeka Okongwu made two free throws with 11 seconds left, lifting the Atlanta Hawks to a 119-115 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Boston's offensive slump continued to hinder the team, with the Celtics shooting 28.8% from 3-point range as a collective. Mazzulla's roster hasn't been running many high-level actions in recent weeks. Rather, they've stuck to basic spread pick-and-roll and isolation plays after a lone ball screen.

The Atlanta Hawks have did something tonight that they have not done since the 2009-2010 season. That would be beating the Boston Celtics twice in Boston. Des

It didn't take long for the action on the court to dispel any notion that it would be a dull contest. Or so we thought in the early going.

Late in the first quarter, LeBron James found himself one-on-one with Celtics center Luke Kornet near the three-point line. With the shot clock running out, LeBron James had to make something happen. He made his move, blowing past the big man with ease.