De'Andre Hunter scored 24 points, including a clinching three-pointer with 9.2 seconds remaining, as the patched-together Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 30-point deficit for a stunning 120-118 victory over the NBA-leading Boston Celtics.

The Celtics had won 20 of 22 and brought a nine-game winning streak into State Farm Arena - a run that certainly appeared in no jeopardy when Al Horford's three-pointer put Boston up 68-38 with about four minutes left in the first half on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT).

But the Hawks, clinging to the final Play-In spot in the East and one of the league's most disappointing teams, launched a comeback out of nowhere, with All-Star guard Trae Young and three other key players sidelined by injuries.

It was the biggest comeback win for Atlanta since at least the 1997-98 season, when the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play.

The Hawks managed to pull off their most improbable win of the season against a team that came into the night 25 and a half games ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings.

Bogdan Bogdanovic had 22 points, Murray chipped in with 19 and Vit Krejci scored 16 for Atlanta.

The Celtics lost despite 37 points from Jayson Tatum, while Jaylen Brown added 24.

In Houston, Jock Landale won bragging rights when his Rockets scored a 110-92 win over fellow Aussie Duop Reath's Portland Trail Blazers.

It was the Rockets' ninth straight win, their longest winning streak since 2019.

At 36-35, Houston are now just half a game behind Golden State for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Landale, replacing suspended Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr, had a season-high 17 points and nine rebounds.

Jalen Green scored 27 points to lead all scorers for the Rockets.

Reath had eight points and four rebounds for Portland.

Dalano Banton led the Blazers with 28 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, while Scoot Henderson added 15 points.

In San Antonio, Jeremy Sochan hit a key three-pointer in the final minute and finished with 26 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as the home side beat the Phoenix Suns 104-102.

Devin Booker scored 36 points and Kevin Durant added 29 for Phoenix.

In Denver, Nikola Jokic had 29 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and Christian Braun scored 17 points as the Nuggets beat the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 128-103.

Jokic, who left the game with 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter and Denver leading by 21 points, finished two assists shy of his 23rd triple-double of the season.

Lamar Stevens matched a season high with 19 points for the Grizzlies, and Scotty Pippen Jr added 17.

In other matches, the Cavaliers beat the Hornets 115-92, the Knicks easily accounted for the Pistons 124-99, and the visiting Wizards pipped the Chicago Bulls 107-105.

There were also wins for the Nets, the Mavericks, the Kings and Pacers.