Jalen Johnson’s Breakout Night Caps Stellar Stretch for Hawks
Jalen Johnson’s rise this season has been one of the brightest spots in Atlanta-and on Sunday, he added another exclamation point to his breakout campaign. The Hawks wing dropped a career-high 41 points in a double-overtime thriller against the Sixers, including 12 in the extra periods.
It wasn’t just the volume that stood out, but the poise. Johnson looked like a player fully stepping into stardom, and more importantly, into leadership.
Hawks head coach Quin Snyder summed it up best: Johnson’s growth isn’t just about scoring-it’s about how he responds when things don’t go perfectly. “When he’s made mistakes, he hasn’t let it get to him,” Snyder said.
“He’s responded and adjusted. That’s the sign of a more mature player.”
That maturity is showing up in the box score and on the tape. Over his last 10 games, Johnson is averaging 25.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 9.1 assists.
Those are All-Star numbers, plain and simple. But more than that, he’s become the guy Atlanta is leaning on late in games-not just to score, but to make the right read, the right pass, the right decision.
And Johnson’s not shying away from that responsibility. “I’m just trusting my work,” he said after the win.
“I have the confidence and trust from my teammates and coaches as well. So when you got that recipe, only good things happen.”
He’s in the first year of a five-year, $150 million deal, and so far, it’s looking like money well spent.
Hornets Want More Defensive Edge from Lonzo Ball
In Charlotte, head coach Charles Lee is looking for Lonzo Ball to make his mark-even when the shots aren’t falling. Ball, whose name has popped up in trade rumors this season, has had an up-and-down offensive year. But Lee isn’t focused on the scoring right now-he wants Ball to bring consistent defensive intensity.
“We talk about that a good amount,” Lee said. “Now we have to back it up with our actions game after game, day after day. Because this is the standard, this is the expectation.”
When Ball is locked in defensively, the Hornets look like a different team. His length, anticipation, and ability to disrupt passing lanes can set the tone. And with Charlotte still trying to find its identity, that kind of impact matters, especially in tight games.
Magic Staying Competitive Without Banchero
The Orlando Magic have been without star forward Paolo Banchero since November 12 due to a left groin strain, and he’ll miss tonight’s matchup with the Bulls as well. Head coach Jamahl Mosley said Banchero remains in the non-contact phase of his rehab, and the team is taking a cautious, day-by-day approach.
“We just continue to see and monitor how he responds to each treatment each day,” Mosley said.
Despite the extended absence of their top scorer and playmaker, the Magic have held their ground-and then some. They currently rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings, a major leap from last season.
Offensively, they’re sitting at eighth-a massive jump from where they finished last year-and it’s not just internal growth. The addition of Desmond Bane and some key tweaks to the coaching staff have helped Orlando stay balanced and dangerous on both ends of the floor.
The Magic are proving they can compete without Banchero, but once he returns, this team could take another step forward.