Atlanta Hawks Overcome Adversity to Defeat Winless Brooklyn Nets 117-112
The Atlanta Hawks showed real grit on Wednesday night at Barclays Center, pulling out a hard-fought 117-112 victory over the winless Brooklyn Nets despite losing their star point guard early in the contest. It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but sometimes in this league, you’ve got to find ways to win when things don’t go according to plan.
Hawks Weather Early Storm After Young’s Injury
The atmosphere turned tense just minutes into the game when Trae Young, Atlanta’s offensive catalyst, crumpled to the floor after an awkward collision with teammate Mouhamed Gueye. The diagnosis? A sprained right knee would sideline him for the remainder of the night. You could feel the air get sucked out of the building. Young had been orchestrating Atlanta’s offense beautifully through the season’s first few games, and suddenly, the Hawks found themselves without their floor general.
Making matters worse, Brooklyn jumped out to a commanding 12-0 lead. The Nets looked hungry, desperate even, searching for their first win of the season after an 0-4 start. But here’s the thing about this Hawks team—they don’t fold easily.
Jalen Johnson Steps Up When It Matters Most
With Young watching from the sidelines, someone needed to step into that leadership void. Enter Jalen Johnson, who delivered a performance that should silence any remaining doubters about his readiness for a bigger role. The young forward poured in 23 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. His three-pointer with just over nine minutes remaining in the game, assisted by Onyeka Okongwu, gave the Hawks breathing room they desperately needed.
Johnson’s fingerprints were all over this victory. He attacked the basket with confidence, made smart decisions with the ball, and showed the kind of composure you typically see from veterans, not players still finding their way in this league.
Balanced Attack Carries Atlanta Hawks Past Brooklyn
What made this win particularly impressive was the balanced scoring attack Atlanta deployed. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 points and played lockdown defense when it mattered most, including a crucial block on Cam Thomas‘s driving layup with just 15 seconds remaining. Luke Kennard, who leads all active NBA players in career three-point shooting percentage, reminded everyone why by drilling 4 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc en route to 17 points.
But perhaps the unsung hero was Onyeka Okongwu, who posted a double-double with 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. His work on the glass proved vital, especially when Brooklyn made their late-game push.
Hawks Defense Holds Strong Down the Stretch
The final minutes tested Atlanta’s resolve. Brooklyn, playing with the desperation of a team still searching for its first win, clawed back into the game. Terance Mann’s tip-dunk with 1:59 remaining cut the deficit to just five points at 115-110. The crowd of 17,548 sensed an opportunity for the home team.
But championship-caliber teams find ways to close out games, and that’s exactly what the Atlanta Hawks did. They held Brooklyn scoreless over the final five possessions, forcing the Nets into a series of contested shots that clanged off the rim. Kennard sealed it with two free throws with 26 seconds left, putting the game out of reach at 117-112.
Looking Ahead for the Atlanta Hawks
This victory moves the Hawks’ record to a solid mark early in the season, but concerns linger about Young’s knee injury. The team will need updates on his status before Friday night’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers. If he’s forced to miss extended time, performances like Johnson’s become even more critical.
What this game proved, however, is that the Atlanta Hawks possess depth and resilience. They absorbed an early punch, lost their best player, and still found a way to win on the road. That’s the mark of a team that believes in itself, a team that won’t be easily intimidated or defeated.
For Brooklyn, the search for that elusive first win continues. They’ve now matched their worst start since the 2015-16 season at 0-5. Despite Michael Porter Jr.’s season-high 32 points and Nic Claxton’s 18 points and 12 rebounds, the Nets couldn’t get the stops they needed when the game hung in the balance.
As the Hawks board their flight to Indianapolis, they’ll do so with confidence. This wasn’t their most dominant performance, but sometimes the wins that require the most heart mean the most. And on this Wednesday night in Brooklyn, the Atlanta Hawks showed plenty of heart.
