Jalen Johnson puts up 32 as Hawks power past 76ers
Jalen Johnson recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as the Atlanta Hawks posted a 117-107 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
In both teams' first game following the All-Star break, Atlanta snapped a three-game skid despite 43.2% shooting from the field and a 10-of-32 showing (31.2%) from 3-point range.
CJ McCollum chipped in with 23 points off the bench for the Hawks, while Dyson Daniels (15 points) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (14) also made key contributions.
Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points on 8-of-23 shooting for the Sixers, while VJ Edgecombe contributed 20 points and nine rebounds. Andre Drummond notched 10 points and 14 rebounds for the hosts, who shot just 38.4% from the floor and 11 of 33 (33.3%) from long range.
Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (suspension), fell to 0-3 against Atlanta this season. The Sixers have dropped three straight games overall.
The Hawks led by four with less than nine minutes remaining before Onyeka Okongwu's tip-in and Daniels' layup pushed the advantage to 99-91. Shortly thereafter, Alexander-Walker's 3-pointer made it an 11-point game, and then Zaccharie Risacher's putback dunk made it 108-94 with 5:12 left.
The Sixers quickly answered with 10 straight points. Kelly Oubre Jr. (17 points) had the final four in that stretch with a fastbreak dunk and two free throws.
Philadelphia got no closer than four points, however. Johnson made a layup with 2:08 to play to restore a six-point margin, and he added three free throws down the stretch.
Both teams shot well under 40% from the field as Atlanta led 28-26 after one quarter.
Neither team led by more than three points in the second quarter until the Hawks created a bit of breathing room late in the session. Daniels' bucket made it 60-50 with just over a minute left before Maxey's 3-pointer pulled the Sixers within seven at the break.
The Hawks led 73-62 early in the third quarter, but the Sixers countered with eight straight points -- the first six by Maxey -- to get within three with 6:31 remaining in the period. Atlanta went on to lead 88-84 after three quarters.