Atlanta Hawks Pull Off Crazy 4th Quarter Comeback to Beat Suns

In the heart of the desert, where hope can evaporate as quickly as a drop of water on hot asphalt, the Atlanta Hawks found themselves in a 22-point hole. It was the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns, in a building buzzing with 17,071 fans who smelled blood in the water. Down two All-Stars and with a key player taking a scary fall, it felt like the end of the line for their perfect road trip. But basketball is a funny game. It’s a game of runs, of heart, and of moments that defy all logic.

What happened next in Phoenix wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. It was a 124-122 comeback victory that will be whispered about for the rest of the season, a testament to the grit of a team that simply refused to lose.

The Hawks’ Unthinkable Fourth-Quarter Surge

Let’s set the scene. The Suns, led by a blistering Dillon Brooks, who poured in 16 of his 34 points in the third quarter alone, had just capped the period with a 15-0 run. The scoreboard read 95-77. The Hawks looked gassed, outmatched, and ready to pack their bags. Trae Young was on the sidelines with a knee sprain, and the towering presence of Kristaps Porzingis was also missing. To make matters worse, sophomore Zaccharie Risacher had just been helped off the court with a hip contusion after a frightening fall on a dunk attempt.

But something shifted. Maybe it was the quiet confidence of a team on a winning streak. Maybe it was the collective understanding that they had nothing left to lose. Whatever it was, the Hawks came alive. Onyeka Okongwu transformed into an unstoppable force, a man possessed. He attacked the rim with relentless fury, finishing the night with a team-high 27 points. He was the anchor, the engine, and the heartbeat of the comeback.

Heroes Emerge in the Valley of the Sun

This wasn’t a one-man show. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, cool and collected, chipped in 26 crucial points. It was his nerve at the free-throw line with just three seconds left that ultimately sealed the deal. He made the first, and though he missed the second, Royce O’Neale was there to snatch the rebound, his desperate heave from beyond halfcourt bouncing harmlessly off the rim as the buzzer sounded. The Hawks had done the impossible.

And you can’t forget Jalen Johnson. The box score shows 25 points and 10 rebounds, a fantastic double-double, but his impact was felt in every hustle play, every smart pass, and every moment he commanded the floor in the absence of the team’s primary stars. With Dyson Daniels adding 11 points and a game-high 12 assists, the Hawks showcased a depth that other teams can only dream of.

Phoenix Left Stunned

For the Phoenix Suns, this will be a game that haunts them. They had it all in their hands. Dillon Brooks was magnificent, a scoring machine who looked determined to single-handedly end Atlanta’s run. Devin Booker was his usual brilliant self, contributing 27 points. But when the fourth-quarter pressure mounted, they crumbled. They were without key players like Grayson Allen and Jalen Green, but for three quarters, it didn’t seem to matter. They watched their 22-point lead disintegrate, bit by bit, as a resilient Hawks squad clawed its way back. The five-game winning streak they brought into the night was gone, snapped by a team that simply had more fight.

This victory marks the fifth straight for the Hawks and completes a perfect 4-0 Western Conference road trip. It’s the kind of trip that forges a team’s identity, that builds a bond in the locker room stronger than steel. They didn’t just win games; they found out who they are when their backs are against the wall. They are a team that fights, a team that believes, and a team that, no matter the score, you can never, ever count out.