ATLANTA — The Celtics have gotten into the habit of winning ugly.
Key word: winning.
Monday night before a "crowd" made less embarrassing in size by a heavy presence of Celt fans, the Bostonians got 35 points and seven assists from Kyrie Irving and 15 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists from Al Horford to overcome the Hawks — and themselves — 110-107.
It was the Celts' ninth straight victory after two losses to open the season and assured both a comfortable flight home from a three-game road trip and many teaching points for the coaches.