After dropping four straight, the Atlanta Hawks came into Memphis on Wednesday night desperate for a spark - and they finally found one. In a back-and-forth battle that saw momentum swing like a pendulum, the Hawks dug deep, leaned on some big-time performances, and walked out of FedExForum with a much-needed win to snap their losing skid.
Early Struggles, Then a Spark
Atlanta’s night couldn’t have started much worse. The Hawks opened the game ice-cold, falling behind 12-1 as nothing seemed to drop.
But then, Onyeka Okongwu stepped out and knocked down a pair of threes - not exactly his calling card, but exactly what the Hawks needed. That opened the floodgates, and Jalen Johnson followed with a scoring burst of his own.
Defensively, the Hawks began to settle in. Mouhamed Gueye brought energy and impact on both ends, helping Atlanta claw back and eventually take a lead in the first quarter. They trailed by just one, 32-31, heading into the second.
Kennard’s Revenge Game, Emotions Flare
Luke Kennard, facing his former team, looked like a man on a mission. He couldn’t miss - and for a stretch, he quite literally didn’t. Every time the Hawks needed a bucket, Kennard delivered, keeping them within striking distance as the game heated up.
Things got chippy in the second quarter when Ja Morant and Gueye got tangled up, resulting in technical fouls for both. But the Hawks didn’t lose focus. Christian Koloko, making his debut for Atlanta, made an immediate impact with a thunderous dunk, and Johnson continued his all-around excellence - including a quarterback-style full-court dime to Vit Krejci for a layup.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who had struggled early, finally saw one go down from deep, and Johnson closed the half with an aggressive finish at the rim over Jaren Jackson Jr. The Hawks went into the locker room up 66-59, having completely flipped the script after their sluggish start.
Trading Blows in the Third
The Grizzlies came out of halftime with renewed energy, quickly tying things up. But the Hawks didn’t flinch. Corey Kispert answered with a bucket, and CJ McCollum connected with Gueye for an easy floater.
Memphis started to edge ahead midway through the third, but Atlanta stayed locked in. Okongwu’s activity on the offensive glass led to an and-one that kept the Hawks within striking distance. Kennard, still red-hot, even turned defense into offense - swiping a steal and finding McCollum for a transition three.
The Hawks briefly took the lead late in the quarter, but Morant responded to give Memphis a 95-94 edge heading into the fourth.
Closing Time: Johnson Takes Over
The fourth quarter was all about execution, and the Hawks delivered. Krejci drilled a transition three to tie it up, and Johnson continued to impose his will in transition. On one play, he barreled through the Grizzlies’ defense for a powerful and-one dunk - the kind of play that shifts momentum and silences a crowd.
Koloko kept making the most of his debut, stepping out to hit a clutch three that gave Atlanta the lead again. Memphis answered, but Johnson came up big once more, turning a defensive stop into a fast-break assist, finding Alexander-Walker in the corner for a dagger three that put the Hawks up four.
The Grizzlies didn’t go quietly. They fought back and had a chance to win it in the final seconds.
Johnson missed a jumper that could’ve sealed it, and Memphis opted not to call a timeout. Morant pushed the ball upcourt, lost control momentarily, and had to force up a contested three at the buzzer.
It missed, and the Hawks escaped with a gritty, much-needed win.
Stat Leaders
Jalen Johnson was the heartbeat of the Hawks all night long, finishing with a monster stat line: 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists - just two dimes shy of a triple-double. Kennard added 18 points on a near-perfect shooting night, while Okongwu chipped in 18 points and 9 rebounds, providing toughness and timely shooting.
The Takeaway
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement that the Hawks still have fight in them. With key players like Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis still sidelined, Atlanta needed its young core to step up. Johnson, Okongwu, and Kennard answered the call, and Koloko’s debut gave them another intriguing piece moving forward.
Breaking a four-game skid on the road, in a hostile environment, against a team with Ja Morant back in the lineup? That’s the kind of win that can shift a season’s momentum.