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Weekly Report: Jalen Johnson Goes Down in Hawks’ 0-4 Week

Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

Hawks Game 42: Jan. 20, 2025

Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks

Final Score: ATL 110 – NYK 119

The Atlanta Hawks’ three-game win streak stopped at Madison Square Garden on Monday. While the Hawks sat in a great position early with an 18-8 start, the New York Knicks held them to six minutes without a field goal between the first and second frames. The Knicks pulled away in the second half behind a 40-point third quarter and held the Hawks to 21 points in the fourth. 

Atlanta shot itself in the foot, committing a disastrous 23 turnovers, leading to 29 New York points. Even though the Hawks shot 47% from the field and 43% from downtown, turnovers can often waste strong shooting performances.

Head Coach Quin Snyder changed the starting lineup before the game. Onyeka Okongwu started over Clint Capela and played 28 minutes to Capela’s 20. Hawks fans should watch the center rotation this week to see if this was a permanent or matchup-based decision. Okongwu finished with 14 points, nine boards, and two steals, while Capela had 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Trae Young shot 6-12 from deep for 27 points with three steals but turned the ball over nine times. De’Andre Hunter added 22 points (7-14 FG).

Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 34 and 26 points, respectively. Dyson Daniels held Bruson to 17.5 points on 38% shooting in the previous two contests, but the Knicks’ star got the better of Daniels in this matchup.

 

Game 43: Jan. 22, 2025

Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks

Final Score: DET 114 – ATL 104

The Hawks’ shooting performance in their loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday was one of the worst in franchise history. Atlanta shot 6-38 from beyond the arc, or 15%. Vít Krejčí and Garrison Mathews combined for 5-9 from deep, while the rest of the Hawks shot 1-29. 

Normally, teams can combat poor shooting efforts by winning turnovers, second-chance buckets, and points in the paint, among other categories. However, the Hawks won in these three areas and still fell due to their 91.7 offensive rating for the game. 

On top of the shot-making woes, Atlanta could not stop the Pistons in the first half. Detroit scored 69 points over the first 24 minutes, shooting 9-18 from downtown and 54% from the field. It closed the second frame on a 14-2 run to take an 18-point lead into halftime. While the Hawks held the Pistons to just 45 points in the second half, including 17 in the fourth quarter, the home team could not find enough offense to make a comeback.

Cade Cunningham led the way with 29 points (12-19 FG) and 11 assists, while Malik Beasley added 19 points with five triples. Ausar Thompson played great defense on Young and scored 16 efficient points.

Daniels was the high man for Atlanta, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 boards. Capela added a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Jalen Johnson scored 17 points (8-21 FG) with nine rebounds and six seals.

 

Game 44: Jan. 23, 2025

Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks

Final Score: TOR 122 – ATL 119

A poor start led to the Hawks falling to the Toronto Raptors. Toronto’s 9-0 run in the first four minutes gave it a 16-8. The visitors shot 14-23 from the field in the first quarter and scored 14 points off Atlanta’s six turnovers. On the other hand, the Hawks did not score off the Raptors’ turnovers, shooting below 40% from the field. Toronto built a 35-25 lead after the first frame and stayed in front until the final eight minutes of the fourth.

At the beginning of the second, Johnson fouled Scottie Barnes on a fastbreak and immediately went to the locker room, holding his left shoulder. This is the opposite shoulder that gave him trouble in the past couple of weeks. Atlanta ruled him out for the remainder of the contest and the next game against Toronto on Saturday.

The Hawks trailed 119-120 with 41 seconds remaining. They got a stop on the next possession, having a chance to take a late lead. However, Young missed a stepback triple, and after Daniels tipped out the offensive board, Hunter drove inside but could not convert at the rim. Atlanta was forced to foul Jakob Poeltl, who hit both free throws. However, it could not tie the game on the final possession, settling for Okongwu’s leaning triple try.

Barnes led Toronto with 25 points, and Bruce Brown shot 8-12 from the field for 18 points off the bench. Poeltl tallied 17 points and nine boards.

Daniels scored 22 points and swiped four steals, and Bogdan Bogdanović broke out of his shooting slump for 23 points on 8-12 shooting. Okongwu continues responding well to his starting role, finishing with 19 points and 12 boards.

 

Game 45: Jan. 25, 2025

Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks

Final Score: TOR 117 – ATL 94

The Hawks dropped their fourth-straight game and second consecutive loss to the Raptors to end the week. Atlanta went 0-3 in games it was favored to win in this homestand. While injuries to Johnson (shoulder), Hunter (illness) and Zaccharie Risacher (adductor) limited the Hawks’ wing depth, they should have been able to defeat Toronto. Larry Nance Jr. returned after a 12-game absence to start at power forward.

The Hawks turned the ball over 22 times and shot 39% from the field. Atlanta recorded an offensive rating of 84.7- its lowest mark of the campaign. Toronto scored 117 points. Many of those came in transition, scoring 20 fastbreak and 24 points off the Hawks’ miscues.

Despite the Raptors committing 21 turnovers, they scored at least 31 points in each of the final three quarters. Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Chris Boucher were the only three double-digit scorers for Toronto, but they all had over 20 points. Barnes led the way with 24, while Barrett and Boucher both scored 23 points.

Young had one of his worst performances of the season. He had 16 points on 5-12 shooting with 11 turnovers compared to four assists. This game ended his 202-game streak with five or more assists. Krejcí shot 6-11 from deep for 20 points, while his teammates finished 5-26 combined. Okongwu put up 19 points, eight boards, five dimes, and four assists.

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