The Atlanta Hawks didn’t make it easy on themselves Sunday night — but they finished like a team that’s starting to understand what winning time looks like.
Atlanta erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit and outscored the Brooklyn Nets 24-2 over the final eight minutes to secure a 115-104 victory.
It wasn’t clean.
It wasn’t dominant.
But it was clutch.
And that matters.
A New Starting Lineup — Same Defensive Issues
The story began before tipoff.
Atlanta rolled out a new starting lineup, inserting CJ McCollum over Zaccharie Risacher in an effort to spark the offense and address slow starts.
Offensively, the move had its moments. McCollum finished with 16 points and hit the go-ahead three with 2:28 remaining.
But the larger issue didn’t go away.
Defense and rebounding remain glaring concerns.
The Nets consistently punished Atlanta on the glass and dominated stretches in the paint. Brooklyn’s physicality created second-chance opportunities and forced the Hawks into uncomfortable rotations.
If there’s one thing that continues to be obvious about this Hawks team, it’s this:
They need more defense.
They need more length.
They need more rebounding.
Jalen Johnson: From Slow Start to Superstar Finish
Early on, Jalen Johnson didn’t look like himself.
Shots weren’t falling. The rhythm wasn’t there. He looked slightly out of sync.
And then the fourth quarter happened.
Johnson scored 14 of his 26 points in the final frame, finishing 11-for-22 from the field while grabbing 12 rebounds for his 38th double-double. He took over when it mattered most.
With Atlanta trailing 102-91 and eight minutes remaining, Johnson shifted gears. He attacked mismatches. He pushed the tempo. He got downhill. He closed.
The Hawks took the lead at 105-104 on McCollum’s three-pointer, and Johnson followed it with a three-point play and another bucket to stretch the lead.
Brooklyn didn’t score for the final 5:19 of the game.
That’s growth.
Johnson didn’t just win the game — he practiced finishing the game.
And for a young star, those reps are invaluable.
Supporting Cast Stepped Up
Atlanta got solid production elsewhere as well.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jock Landale each chipped in 17 points, providing needed scoring stability when the offense stalled earlier in the night.
The Hawks led by as many as eight in the second quarter before allowing a 13-0 Nets run. The third quarter was a back-and-forth exchange with five ties and four lead changes.
Then came Brooklyn’s 17-2 run early in the fourth that pushed the lead to 102-91.
That’s when Atlanta responded.
The Kuminga Factor
The good news?
Help may be coming.
The Hawks were without trade acquisition Jonathan Kuminga, who remains sidelined with a left knee bone bruise and will be re-evaluated this week.
Kuminga’s athleticism and length should help defensively on the perimeter and in transition.
The bad news?
He’s not a traditional rim protector.
While Kuminga adds defensive versatility, he won’t singlehandedly fix Atlanta’s paint protection or rebounding problems. Those issues remain structural.
What This Win Really Means
Atlanta has now won two of its last three and both meetings with Brooklyn this season. Meanwhile, the Nets have dropped four straight.
But beyond the standings, this game revealed two truths:
- The Hawks can close when their star locks in.
- The defensive and rebounding issues are still very real.
If Atlanta wants to climb beyond play-in territory, those second-chance points and paint breakdowns must be addressed.
You can’t rely on a 24-2 run every night.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t a perfect performance.
But it was a valuable one.
Jalen Johnson reminded everyone why he’s the best player on the floor in crunch time. The Hawks proved they can execute late.
Now the question becomes whether they can tighten up defensively before those fourth-quarter deficits become too large to erase.
Atlanta survived Sunday.
Long term? They’ll need more than survival.
Stay locked in to ATL Sports Zone for continued Hawks coverage as the push continues. 🏀🔥