Johnson dominated with career highs, fueling a stunning Hawks comeback and franchise shooting record against the Jazz.
The Atlanta Hawks found the resilience they needed in the fourth quarter, turning a shaky second half into a 132–122 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night at the Delta Center.
Atlanta’s win came on the second night of a back-to-back in high altitude, and for several minutes in the third quarter, it looked as if the fatigue would catch up with them. Their offense stalled, possessions bogged down, and the Jazz controlled the pace long enough to erase what had once been an 18-point deficit. But the Hawks rediscovered their movement, leaned on the two-way force that Jalen Johnson has become, and steadied themselves down the stretch.
Johnson delivered one of the most complete performances of the season by any player in the league. He finished with 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists and seven steals, reaching career highs in points and assists while recording his third career triple-double. Whenever Atlanta needed a response — a rebound in traffic, a push in transition, a live-dribble pass to regain momentum — Johnson provided it.
Utah (4–8) had no answer for Atlanta’s shooting, particularly early. The Hawks made 15 threes in the first half alone, a franchise record, and finished with 24 — the most by any team in the NBA this season. Vit Krejci powered a blistering opening stretch by going 5-for-5 from deep before halftime and totaling 20 points off the bench.
The Jazz countered behind a 40-point effort from Lauri Markkanen, whose shotmaking was pivotal in Utah’s second-half surge. Rookie Ace Bailey continued to show promise with 21 points and Keyonte George added 19, helping the Jazz seize a 106–103 lead early in the fourth quarter. But even after weathering Utah’s comeback, the Hawks stayed within reach long enough to flip the momentum back in their favor.
One of the defining sequences came with 8:41 remaining. After Nickeil Alexander-Walker split a pair of free throws, Johnson chased down the rebound near the sideline to save a possession that appeared lost. Atlanta swung the ball through Alexander-Walker to Luke Kennard, and when Utah’s defense shifted, Kennard found Onyeka Okongwu for a catch-and-shoot three that created a four-point possession and steadied Atlanta.
Okongwu, who had never made more than four threes in a game, knocked down eight of them on his way to a career-high 32 points and 11 rebounds. In a 90-second burst that halted Utah’s momentum, he drilled three straight threes to push Atlanta ahead 119–112 with just over seven minutes remaining.
From there, Johnson helped seal the outcome with an 8-0 run that included steals by both himself and Alexander-Walker. His free throws with 3:03 to play extended the margin to 127–118 and effectively ended Utah’s hopes of a comeback.
The Hawks (8–5) have now won four straight despite missing Trae Young, who remains sidelined with an MCL sprain, and Kristaps Porzingis, who rested on the second night of the back-to-back. Their ball movement has been central to that success, and Thursday was no exception as they finished with 36 assists.
Atlanta concludes its four-game road trip Sunday in Phoenix, where the Suns have won eight of their last nine.