Jalen Johnson Powers Through Slump, Delivers in Crunch Time as Hawks Edge Suns
ATLANTA - Every NBA season has its rough patches, even for breakout stars. For Jalen Johnson, that stretch came recently - a three-game skid where the shots weren’t falling, the rhythm felt off, and the turnovers crept in.
But if this past week has shown us anything, it’s that Johnson didn’t let that slump define him. He went right back to work, and the results are speaking for themselves.
In back-to-back games, Johnson has not only bounced back - he’s taken control when it matters most. Against Memphis, he had the ball in his hands late and delivered.
Same story against Phoenix: game on the line, mismatch in front of him, and Johnson went to work. Two games, two wins, and a clear sign that the 22-year-old is growing into a closer.
Now, let’s be real - the offense did get a little stagnant late in both games when Johnson was isolating. That’s not typically the Hawks’ recipe for success.
But when you’ve got a 6’9” forward with size, strength, and agility, and he’s matched up against smaller guards like Ja Morant or Grayson Allen? You let him eat.
That’s exactly what Atlanta did, and Johnson made the most of it.
“[Jalen’s] challenge is to feel those situations,” head coach Quin Snyder said postgame. “That’s a responsibility that he has, and I think he’s embraced and is continuing to work on that.”
Snyder’s not wrong - Johnson’s development isn’t just about scoring. It’s about reading the game, playing off the ball, running the floor, and doing all the little things that glue a team together. And right now, he’s doing all of it.
Against Phoenix, Johnson nearly posted a triple-double: 23 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists. That’s not just stuffing the stat sheet - that’s impacting every phase of the game. And it’s the kind of performance that’s becoming more and more familiar for Hawks fans this season.
As for that mini-slump? Johnson didn’t let it shake him.
“It was three games where I didn’t play my best,” he said. “I stay consistent with my work, so I had no doubt it was going to come back around.
I trust my work. I knew it was going to come around, so I just have to continue to stay consistent with my work and let those things continue to take care of themselves.”
That mindset - trusting the process, staying level - is exactly what you want from a young cornerstone. It’s also a big reason why Atlanta is starting to look like a more composed team in late-game situations.
The game itself was a rollercoaster. The Hawks and Suns traded punches through the first half, with neither side gaining much separation.
Atlanta came out strong in the third quarter, building a double-digit lead - but that momentum didn’t last. Sloppy possessions and a lack of cohesion led to nine turnovers in the quarter, more than they had made field goals (seven).
That kind of imbalance can swing games quickly, and it nearly did.
“We didn’t know what we wanted to get into on the offensive end,” Johnson admitted. “There were a few possessions down the court where we were unorganized… I think when everybody is on the same page, that kind of takes back on the turnovers.”
Still, despite the miscues, Atlanta only trailed by seven heading into the fourth. And that’s when the defense stepped up. The Hawks locked in, got stops, and leaned on Johnson and the offense to close the door.
“I like how we guarded, particularly down the stretch,” Snyder said.
That defensive intensity - combined with Johnson’s late-game poise - helped the Hawks grind out a win. And maybe, just maybe, it’s the start of something more.
The rhythm is coming back. The confidence is growing.
And if Johnson keeps playing like this, Atlanta might be ready to start stacking wins again.
One thing’s for sure: the slump is over. And Jalen Johnson is just getting started.