Jalen Johnson keeps getting thrown into bigger late-game roles while Trae Young is out, and Tuesday was another example. He finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, driving the comeback that cut Detroit’s lead to one — but he also had four second-half turnovers that hurt Atlanta’s chances in crunch time.

He said afterward that “closing is huge for us” and admitted the turnovers were costly. Still, he’s becoming the primary decision-maker late in games, and the Hawks clearly trust him to handle those responsibilities.

'Closing Is Huge for Us': Jalen Johnson Adjusts to Late-Game Burden Without Trae Young Young's absence elevates Johnson's playmaking burden. He navigates pressure and turnovers, striving for clutch execution as Hawks face growing pains.

So here’s the question: Is Johnson ready to be a full-time closer, or is this stretch exposing how much the Hawks still need Trae in those moments?