Jalen Johnson Shines as Hawks Snap Skid with Gritty Road Win Over Grizzlies
MEMPHIS - The Atlanta Hawks needed this one. Not just to snap a four-game losing streak, but to remind themselves - and the rest of the league - that when they lock in, they can grind out wins in tough environments. Thursday night in Memphis, they did exactly that, edging the Grizzlies 124-122 in a nail-biter that came down to the final possession.
This wasn’t a game Atlanta controlled from start to finish. Far from it.
The FedExForum crowd came out loud, and the Grizzlies fed off that early energy. But the Hawks weathered the storm, settled in, and leaned on what might’ve been their most complete team performance in weeks.
At the heart of it all was Jalen Johnson, who turned in the kind of performance that gets noticed across the league. Johnson was everywhere - attacking mismatches, pushing the pace, cleaning the glass, and making the right reads in transition. He finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists - just two dimes shy of a triple-double - and more importantly, he set the tone for Atlanta’s physical and composed approach.
“Memphis made their runs, the crowd was into it, and we didn’t blink,” head coach Quin Snyder said postgame. “Jalen set the tone with his force and competitiveness, and we trusted each other late.”
That trust showed in the fourth quarter, when the game tightened and every possession mattered. Johnson came through again and again, whether it was a tough finish at the rim or a key defensive stop. His late drive in the final minute - a fearless attack through contact - proved to be the dagger.
But this wasn’t a one-man show. Nickeil Alexander-Walker stepped up in a big way, orchestrating the offense and making smart, timely plays down the stretch. His ability to control tempo and make the right reads under pressure helped steady the Hawks when Memphis made its final push.
The supporting cast delivered, too. Atlanta’s bigs brought toughness inside, limiting Memphis to tough, contested looks around the rim.
Onyeka Okongwu was particularly impactful, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds, and a pair of blocks. He anchored the paint and made life difficult for the Grizzlies’ frontcourt all night.
Luke Kennard added 18 points of his own, including four threes that helped stretch the floor and keep Memphis honest defensively. The Hawks also dominated in second-chance points - a subtle but crucial edge in a game decided by just two.
Still, Memphis didn’t go quietly. Ja Morant was his usual electric self, slicing through the defense with speed and creativity.
He finished with 23 points and 12 assists, and his third-quarter surge nearly flipped the game on its head. The Grizzlies even grabbed a slim lead late in the fourth.
But when it came down to the final moments, Atlanta was the more composed team. They knocked down free throws, executed in the halfcourt, and got the stops they needed. Morant had a chance to steal it at the buzzer with a deep three, but it rimmed out - and the Hawks exhaled.
This was a win built on toughness, trust, and timely execution. And for a team trying to find its rhythm again, it couldn’t have come at a better time.