Doc Rivers wasn't too happy last night with the officials.

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “If there is a more challenging foil in this league than the Hawks, the Celtics haven’t played it yet. And still their confidence runs amok. ‘We still feel we’re the better team’ said an exhausted Paul Pierce, who like the rest of a closing unit that included Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins, played the last 19 minutes without a substitution by associate coach Tom Thibodeau, who took over for Rivers. ‘The year we won the (2008) championship, we lost four times to Washington. It definitely bothered us, but we’re a better team, and it will show’”

Chris Forsberg, ESPNBoston – “Atlanta tied the game before the end of the quarter, then pulled ahead in the fourth, making Rivers’ tantrum sting that much more. ‘I told the guys after the game, No. 1, that’s always on me,’ said Rivers. ‘I don’t think I should ever get thrown out. I don’t know when the last time I was thrown out was, actually. I don’t care how bad you think the calls are at the moment, you know, somehow you have to try to rein yourself back in. Honestly, I reacted — I was so shocked at what they were calling. I thought they were talking about whether it was a breakaway or not. The last thing I had in my mind was a flagrant. I didn’t even think that was part of the discussion. So I was so surprised by that I reacted, and I never should have.’”

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald – “A livid Rivers was called for two techs, and when Hill made a comment (not an abusive one, according to those close by), he got one, as well. With three tech free throws, plus two for the foul and possession of the ball, the Hawks could have done some major damage. But after Jamal Crawford made the three technical free throws, Williams hit 1-of-2 from the line and Kendrick Perkins blocked a Crawford drive. The damage had already been done to the flow, however, according to the Celts. ‘Well I don’t know, the game is full of momentum changes and throughout the course of the game that’s what happens,’ captain Paul Pierce said. ‘I mean, we gave them momentum when we were up (10) and then we got the technical fouls and you know they cut the lead basically in half with the free throws, and it becomes a dogfight after that.’”

Chris Forsberg, ESPNBoston – “After Rivers was ejected in the third quarter, the Celtics didn’t utilize a single sub over the final 19 minutes of the game, even as the Hawks rallied ahead. ‘I think with me getting thrown out, it kind of left our staff — it happened so quick,’ said Rivers. ‘It’s almost like Rasheed. So leaving the guys in that were playing well was probably the safe bet. I don’t know.’”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “That’s pretty much the turning point of this game,’’ said Allen. “Being up 10, we were playing well. You figure three techs and then the flagrant and then the ball back. That’s close to tying the ballgame back up and the momentum swings in their favor.’ Davis, who scored 13 points off the bench for a team that has been shorthanded for weeks, appreciated Rivers’s support. ‘Doc felt it was a bad call and he expressed himself,’ Davis said. ‘He watched out for his players. I’m all with him. I’m not mad at what Doc’s decision was. I just feel like it was a tough call and emotions flare.’”

Gary Washburn, Boston Globe – “And if the Garden faithful didn’t know enough about Joe Johnson, they got their fill last night. He was simply brilliant in the fourth, scoring 12 points, including a back-breaking 3-point counter to Allen’s trey that gave Atlanta a 92-91 lead with 4:25 left. Johnson, who finished with 36, is a quiet assassin. The former Celtic – can you believe he was traded to Phoenix for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers? – is one of the league’s best pure scorers and shows no emotion when he snuffs the confidence of opposing defenses. The Hawks are a young team and Johnson is only 28, but he has a veteran savvy that teammates pick up on.”

Ken Sugiura, Atlanta Journal-Constitution – “‘This team has grown,’ Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. ‘I don’t care how you cut it. We don’t have to be considered as one of the elite teams, but we’re a good team in the NBA that’s fighting for something.’ This was the Hawks’ third win over Boston in as many tries and their second in four days. After getting swept by the Celtics (26-10) in the past two seasons, the Hawks (24-13) have a chance to go 4-0 against them Jan. 29 at Philips Arena. The last time the Hawks swept a four-game season series from Boston was the 1995-96 season. It was a considerable departure from the Hawks’ 113-81 surrender to Orlando on Saturday.”

Brendan Jackson, CelticsHub – “When I drew the dubious task of recapping tonight’s Hawks game, certain thoughts came to mind.  Am I going to be recapping another awful loss typified by overall terrible play by the Celtics?  Am I going to waste my words telling a bunch of Celtics fans how much the Jamal Crawford acquisition means for this potential playoff matchup?  Am I going to be swallowing my pride, putting my allegiance to Celtics fandom aside and say the Hawks have the Celtics’ number? I can thankfully say that I won’t be doing any of those things. Never did I think I would be breaking down just how Brian Scalabrine had Josh Smith lock down.  And never did I think I would be explaining how, for a good chunk of the third quarter, I was mentally imploring the Garden crowd to raise their voices in a collective ‘Don-Na-Ghy! Don-Na-Ghy!’”

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