Jalen Johnson’s monster double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds ignited a furious 24-2 fourth-quarter run as the Hawks overcame an 11-point deficit to stun the Nets 115-104. This signature win capsule Atlanta’s resilience, marks a new post-Young identity, and dispels rumors of locker-room turmoil.
ATLANTA — Jalen Johnson didn’t just post numbers — he authored a 12-point personal symphony across the final eight minutes that flipped the script on Brooklyn and may have rewritten Atlanta’s season narrative.
The 24-year-old forward finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, none bigger than the 12-point blitz that powered a 24–2 Atlanta avalanche after the Hawks trailed 102-91 with 8:01 left. The Nets folded under the deluge, missing 11 of their last 12 shots (0-for-10 from deep) as the State Farm Arena roof lifted off.
“A comeback like this makes people wake up,” Johnson told ESPN post-game. “It ain’t about one stat line— it’s about proving who we really are.”
From Young’s Shadow to Atlanta’s Leader: The Johnson Evolution
When the Hawks traded Trae Young to the Wizards earlier this month, many fans wrote off the season. Enter Jalen Johnson, the 23rd pick in 2021, now thrust into prime-time leadership.
Over the past ten games, he’s averaging 22.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists. Sunday’s game wasn’t about flash — it was about grit. Twelve straight fourth-quarter points, none prettier than the pope-hands slam over Nic Claxton that officially turned the arena into a cauldron.
The magic number was 21. That’s how many points Atlanta scored in the fourth quarter, outscoring Brooklyn by 18. The Nets offense evaporated after 102 points; they scored zero points in the final 1:52.
The CJ McCollum Catalyst & Bench Bombs
CJ McCollum, in his first Hawks start, provided the calm incision Atlanta needed after the Young trade turbulence: 16 points, 8 rebounds, zero turnovers. His mid-range poppings punctured Brooklyn’s defense at critical junctures.
Off the bench, Jock Landale detonated. In just 16 minutes, he dropped 17 points, nailed all three 3-point tries, and changed the defensive shot profile. That’s plus-29 efficiency in a night.
Onyeka Okongwu — still emerging from bronc-disease rumors — hammered a thunderous slam over Nic Claxton that served double duty: Sprite Therapy for Atlanta and a 7-second emotional dagger for Brooklyn’s rotation.
Nets’ Fatal Fades & Claxton’s Journey
Brooklyn swung first: 13–4 run in the first five minutes. At 102-91, they looked poised to end their four-game skid. Then their engine stuttered — and never restarted.
Michael Porter Jr. paced Brooklyn with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists. But the story was Claxton versus the injury bug — he’d missed the last three games with ankle and hip issues and still logged 15 points, 8 boards, 5 assists.
Injury or not, he couldn’t stop the tide late; Johnson’s speed and physicality broke Brooklyn’s defensive schemes repeatedly down the stretch.
The Locker-Room ‘Proof’ & What’s Next
Speculation has circled Atlanta for weeks: ‘distraction,’ ‘quit,’ ‘rebuld.’ Sunday’s rally — the team’s first signature win since November — felt like exclamation point to the Hawks’ replies.
Rookie No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher came off the bench for just the second time all year — he scored 7 points in sync. No complaints, no headline-grabbing questions. Pure basketball.
Tomorrow’s notes: Hawks host Washington (Tuesday) while Brooklyn hosts Dallas. Atlanta gets a chance to keep the mojo alive and prove Sunday wasn’t fluky rainbows.
The Final Pulse
Saturday’s box score says Hawks won by 11. Reality says they sewed something bigger—that the Hawks aren’t waiting on tomorrow anymore. They’re writing tomorrow with every 12-point fourth-quarter.
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