Dyson Daniels ignited a defensive surge, fueling a decisive 24-2 run that propelled the Hawks to a comeback victory over the Nets.
The Atlanta Hawks did not make it easy on themselves Sunday night. What appeared on paper to be a manageable matchup against the Brooklyn Nets turned into a fourth-quarter test of urgency, one that ultimately revealed something about Atlanta’s defensive ceiling.
Trailing by 11 early in the final period at State Farm Arena, the Hawks flipped the game with a decisive 24-2 run to secure a 115-104 victory. The turning point, according to Dyson Daniels, was aggression.
“We turned the aggression up in the last six minutes,” Daniels said. “We had no choice, we were down 11, we had to change something. Everybody turned it up. We were more physical on the ball; we were able to create turnovers, get stops, and get out and run.”
As he said, the shift was visible immediately. Daniels recorded three fourth-quarter steals, including a well-timed interception on an inbounds pass that ignited transition offense. His anticipation and length disrupted Brooklyn’s rhythm at a point when the Hawks needed momentum.
“He kind of threw it low,” Daniels said of the steal. “I knew he had the ball for already three or four seconds, so it was coming soon, and I just timed the jump.”
That defensive pressure extended beyond Daniels. Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker amplified the ball pressure on the perimeter, while Atlanta tightened rotations behind the play. The Nets, who had controlled much of the third quarter and early fourth, managed just 17 points in the final frame.
“Collectively, we did a good job of stopping them,” Johnson said. “Nickeil and Dyson set the tone with that, and the rest of the guys followed the lead. Dyson got a few steals, and that shifted the momentum.”
The numbers underline the defensive turnaround. Atlanta won the rebounding battle 52-34 and held Brooklyn to 45% shooting overall. Daniels finished with seven points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in 33 minutes, posting a +11 plus-minus without committing a turnover. His stat line was less about scoring and more about control.
Off the bench, fellow Australian Jock Landale provided offensive lift, scoring 17 points in 16 minutes and stretching the floor by hitting all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. His third-quarter burst helped steady Atlanta during a stretch when Brooklyn threatened to build separation.
Still, the game ultimately hinged on Johnson’s late scoring. He poured in 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, attacking mismatches and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. CJ McCollum, who recently moved into the starting lineup, added a timely three-pointer that gave Atlanta the lead for good.
The Hawks improved to 28-31 with the win, continuing a homestand that presents a clear opportunity to climb the Eastern Conference standings. But Daniels acknowledged the larger lesson.
“We have to be better at the start of the game if we want to beat good teams and give ourselves a chance this year,” he said.
Atlanta’s closing stretch showed what the team can be when defensive intensity aligns with execution. The challenge now is sustaining that aggression long before the final six minutes.