Hawks' Jalen Johnson takes over late to beat 76ers

Johnson's dominant fourth quarter performance leads Atlanta to sixth straight win

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson took over the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 15 of his 35 points in the final period to lead his team to a 125-116 victory. Johnson made key plays down the stretch, including a three-pointer, a dunk over Kelly Oubre Jr. and Dominick Barlow, and a one-handed slam over Adem Bona. The win extends the Hawks' winning streak to six games.

Why it matters

Jalen Johnson's late-game heroics demonstrate his ability to take over close games and lead the Hawks to victories. As one of the team's young stars, his performance in crunch time is crucial for Atlanta's playoff push.

The details

Johnson finished the game with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. After a slow start that saw the Hawks surrender 73 points in the first half, they tightened up defensively in the second half, holding the 76ers to just 43 points and forcing 10 turnovers. The Hawks were able to make key adjustments at halftime to turn the game around.

  • Johnson hit a three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to give the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 8 points.
  • With less than 2 minutes remaining, Johnson drove past Adem Bona and finished a one-handed dunk.

The players

Jalen Johnson

The Atlanta Hawks' young star forward who took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 35 points to lead his team to victory.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

The Philadelphia 76ers' forward who was dunked on by Jalen Johnson during a key sequence in the fourth quarter.

Dominick Barlow

The Philadelphia 76ers' player who was also dunked on by Jalen Johnson in the fourth quarter.

Adem Bona

The Philadelphia 76ers' player who was driven past and dunked on by Jalen Johnson late in the game.

Quin Snyder

The Atlanta Hawks' head coach who praised Jalen Johnson's performance and decision-making in the fourth quarter.

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What they’re saying

“He's making the right play, and sometimes the right play is throwing a little lob to Dyson [Daniels]. Sometimes it's just getting on the rim. And sometimes it's taking your jumper when people are playing off you. I think he did all those things, and he did them really efficiently. One of his best games, I think.”

— Quin Snyder, Atlanta Hawks Head Coach (clutchpoints.com)

“It was amazing. Just the aggression, he played with decisiveness. Getting downhill, didn't settle. It was very timely and in a time when we needed it. He just kept rolling, and we were all behind him.”

— Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks Player (clutchpoints.com)

“I think I'm always locked in. Obviously, you get in when the momentum is high, and you're on a run. Emotions are running much higher than at the beginning of the game. So maybe the emotional piece of it looks like locking in more.”

— Jalen Johnson (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The Hawks will look to extend their winning streak to seven games when they face the Dallas Mavericks next week.

The takeaway

Jalen Johnson's dominant fourth quarter performance showcased his ability to take over close games and lead the Hawks to victory. As one of the team's young stars, his clutch play in crunch time will be crucial for Atlanta's playoff aspirations.