Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson combined to lead every Atlanta Hawks bucket down the stretch in a 123-113 win over Sacramento, and Alexander-Walker says the two are figuring it out together in real time.
Saturday night at State Farm Arena, the answers came from the same place they usually do. Tied at 97 with 7:56 left, the Atlanta Hawks needed a bucket against the Sacramento Kings. Then another. Alexander-Walker and Johnson handled both. Between them, they had a hand in nearly every Hawks bucket the rest of the way as Atlanta closed on a 26-16 run to win 123-113 — and give Snyder career win No. 500.
Alexander-Walker finished with 27. Johnson had 26 points and 10 assists, his 44th double-double of the year.
For both players, it is unfamiliar territory. And they are the first to admit it.
"It's our first time really being in this position," Alexander-Walker said. "I think we've just been leaning on each other to grow."
Atlanta has gone 15-2 over its last 17 games. In most of those wins, the fourth quarter has belonged to those two. It is not the kind of partnership they were handed.
Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 72 games this season. Johnson is averaging 22.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 66 games — numbers that place him among the league's most complete forwards.
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Snyder said the two's unselfishness is what makes them hard to contain down the stretch.
"Sometimes it just requires a lot of communication on their part, and they're also unselfish," Snyder said. "They just want the right result. Both those guys, their confidence is really high as far as making a play, whether it's a shot or they find each other."
Alexander-Walker said the two talk constantly about what they're seeing late in games.
"Him and I talk all the time, and it's been cool to really band together and try to figure out how to win," he said. "I talk to him a lot about things he sees late in games and how we can play off each other. Sometimes it feels like we want the other person to go be aggressive, which is cool — to have someone in your corner telling you to go get it."
The conversations are showing up on the floor. Neither has been here before, and they're writing the playbook as they go — with the playoffs weeks away.
Atlanta remade its roster at the deadline. Finding a closing combination this quickly was not guaranteed.
"I'm learning a lot," Alexander-Walker said. "We're growing together. It's fun... Having a partner in crime with him. I'm enjoying it."