Johnson Scores 30 in Return as Hawks Rally Past Nets 124-121

The Atlanta Hawks beat the Brooklyn Nets 124-121 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Jalen Johnson scored a season-high 30 points in his return from a sprained left ankle, and Atlanta took its first lead of the game with 1:26 left before holding on for a fourth straight win.

Johnson had missed three games and had not played for a week. He shot 11 for 17 from the field, missed all five of his 3-point attempts, and added 7 rebounds and 6 assists. He scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, when Atlanta outscored Brooklyn 36-26.

A lead that lasted almost all night

Brooklyn controlled the game from the start. The Nets shot 73.7 percent in the first quarter and led 37-27. They led 70-66 at halftime and 95-88 after three quarters. Atlanta trailed the entire game, by as many as 17 points, until the final minutes.

The turn came late in the fourth quarter. Nickeil Alexander-Walker put the Hawks ahead 115-114 on a pair of free throws with 1:26 left, then followed with a jumper to extend the lead to three points. The Associated Press report of the game recorded the same turning point and the same final margin.

Alexander-Walker finished with 20 points. Aaron Wiggins also scored 20 points, with 12 of them in the final quarter. Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu was taken to the locker room in the first minute of the game after being struck in the throat by an elbow. He returned and scored 16 points.

Porter and Sharpe lead Brooklyn

Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 25 points and 9 rebounds. Julius Randle added 19 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, and Nolan Traore also scored 19 points.

Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. came off the bench for a season-high-tying 18 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. DayRon Sharpe had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists for his second triple-double of the season.

The quarter scores show how long Brooklyn held the edge. Brooklyn scored 37, 33, 25 and 26 points across the four quarters. Atlanta scored 27, 39, 22 and 36, saving its best quarter for last.

What the win means

The win extended Atlanta's winning streak to four games. It was also the Hawks' sixth straight win in matchups with Brooklyn, a run that survived a 17-point deficit and a night when the home team did not lead until 86 seconds remained.

For Johnson, the return game set his season scoring high at 30 points. He did it without a made 3-pointer, scoring inside and at the line while Atlanta's bench and wings closed the game around him.