Jalen Johnson put on a show in Philadelphia on Sunday night-and not just in the box score. The Atlanta Hawks forward delivered a career performance when his team needed it most, navigating a chaotic fourth quarter and two overtimes to lead the Hawks to a wild 142-134 win over the 76ers.
With Trae Young sidelined, Johnson has stepped into a bigger role, and against Philly, he looked every bit the part of a rising star. He finished with a career-high 41 points, but it wasn’t just the scoring-it was the timing, the poise, and the sheer will he showed in the game’s biggest moments.
Let’s rewind to the final minute of regulation. The Hawks were clinging to a six-point lead when Johnson calmly knocked down two free throws with just over a minute to go.
TYRESE MAXEY SENDS IT TO OVERTIME
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Then, with 49.8 seconds left, he did it again-another pair from the stripe, stretching the lead to eight. In most games, that’s enough to seal it.
But this one was far from over.
The Sixers clawed back, cutting the lead to four. Johnson went back to the line with 21.5 seconds remaining, hitting the first but missing the second.
That miss opened the door for Philly. Dominick Barlow scored quickly and drew a foul from Johnson.
Though Barlow missed the free throw, Paul George made a veteran play-outmuscling Johnson for the rebound and zipping a pass to Tyrese Maxey, who drilled a game-tying three. Just like that, we were headed to overtime.
Now, this is where a lot of young players might shrink. Not Johnson. He responded with the kind of resilience that turns heads across the league.
Late in the first overtime, Maxey had a chance to ice it for the Sixers with two free throws. He missed both. Johnson stepped up again, sinking two clutch free throws to tie the game and force a second overtime.
And in that second OT, he took over.
Johnson hit a three to give Atlanta a three-point lead. Then, with 1:25 left, he buried another triple to push the lead to six. Those were dagger shots-ice-cold, high-pressure buckets that helped the Hawks finally put the game away.
By the final buzzer, Johnson had racked up 41 points-his best scoring night as a pro. But just as important as the number was the way he got there. He was aggressive, confident, and composed, especially in the late-game moments that so often separate good players from great ones.
He wasn’t alone, either. Nickeil Alexander-Walker poured in 34 points of his own, and Dyson Daniels chipped in with 17. But make no mistake-this was Johnson’s night.
At 13-8, the Hawks are starting to find their rhythm, even as they battle through injuries. But there won’t be much time to rest. They’ve got a quick turnaround with a Monday night matchup against the East-leading Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.
If Johnson brings even half the energy he showed in Philly, the Hawks will be in good shape.