Jalen Johnson fuels a dominant offensive surge and renewed defensive grit, ending a seven-game skid with a resounding win.
The Atlanta Hawks finally found their footing, pairing renewed defensive urgency with an explosive night from Jalen Johnson to close the calendar year with a much-needed win.
Atlanta rode a dominant second quarter and a balanced effort to a 126-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, snapping a seven-game losing streak and restoring momentum heading into the new year. The Hawks outscored Minnesota 37-23 in the second quarter to seize control and never looked back, leading by as many as 25 points in the second half.
Johnson delivered his most complete performance of the season, finishing with 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. He controlled the tempo in transition, punished mismatches in the half court and consistently set the tone at both ends as Atlanta improved to 6-11 at home.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 30 points and five rebounds, including 24 in the first half, but the Timberwolves struggled to generate consistent offense beyond their star guard. Julius Randle added 19 points, while no other Minnesota player reached double figures. With the outcome largely decided, coach Chris Finch emptied his bench in the final minutes.
Atlanta’s separation came during a pivotal stretch late in the first quarter. After the Hawks’ offense stalled and Minnesota began to close the gap, rookie Asa Newell injected immediate energy off the bench. He set up Kristaps Porzingis for a 3-pointer to snap the drought, forced a steal moments later, and capped the sequence with an offensive rebound and quick putback that steadied Atlanta’s momentum.
Porzingis, appearing in his first game since Dec. 5 after missing 10 games with an illness, provided an immediate boost. He scored 16 points in 17 minutes off the bench, spacing the floor and anchoring the second unit as Atlanta built a 70-49 halftime lead.
Onyeka Okongwu added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Luke Kennard chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and five assists in a productive night off the bench. Dyson Daniels filled the stat sheet with 11 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks, giving Atlanta steady two-way play in Trae Young’s second straight absence due to a right quad contusion.
Johnson’s impact extended beyond scoring, highlighted by one of the game’s signature moments midway through the third quarter. After pulling down a rebound on a missed Edwards layup, he spotted Zaccharie Risacher streaking up the floor and delivered a perfectly placed outlet pass. Risacher gathered it over his shoulder and finished with a dunk that ignited the arena and underscored Atlanta’s renewed pace and confidence.
After the game, Johnson framed the performance as a necessary reset rather than a final destination.
“I felt like it was just a complete game from everybody,” Johnson said. “Just the durability from all of us to do it for 48 minutes. I think that was huge for us. It’s a step in the right direction for one game. This is something we can continue to build off. Just got to focus on New York now.”
Kennard, who has been encouraged to look for his shot more consistently, pointed to trust from the coaching staff and teammates.
“I’ve had some good moments, good games, but nowhere near what I can be and what I expect myself,” Kennard said. “They’ve been on me a lot to be aggressive and shoot the ball when I can.”
Newell described his role more simply.
“I just feel like I’m a fire starter,” he said. “When I play with that passion and that fire, it tends to uplift everybody.”
Porzingis echoed the sentiment, noting a noticeable shift in the team’s energy.
“It felt like we played with more juice,” he said. “Getting up and down, playing with joy. That’s a big part of creating the energy we need to win games.”
Atlanta will look to build on the performance Friday night when it visits the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.