40-point special: Jalen Johnson leads Hawks to double OT win over 76ers

Johnson hit back-to-back 3s in the second overtime period to ice the game.

“It was good. It was a tough, grit-it-out win,” Johnson said. “We just did what we needed to do down the stretch.”

Quick stats: Johnson had a career-high 41 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 34 points on 6-of-11 shooting from 3. Dyson Daniels had 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey scored 44 points, had seven rebounds and nine assists.

Turning point

The Hawks trailed the 76ers 89-83 at the end of the third quarter before they rattled off nine straight points before eventually building a 99-91 lead off a 3 from Keaton Wallace with 7:18 to play in the game. But then the Hawks relaxed and 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey charged into the paint, using his speed to get to the rim.

The Hawks were slow to get into position, catching him on the arm on two different possessions to give him the 3-point play. Maxey also found Paul George for a 3 in between his own heroics.

The Hawks in turn, could not score with the clock running as the 76ers scratched their way back into the game.

76ers forward Dominick Barlow, who played for the Hawks last season, drew a 3-point play. Though Barlow’s free-throw didn’t go in, the Hawks got lax with their rebounding and George came up with. George kicked it to Maxey, who hit the 3 that tied the game at 115, forcing overtime.

Highlight play

The Hawks got the possession advantage Sunday, thanks to their defensive efforts. The Hawks were at their best when they turned the 76ers over and got out in transition,

With 6:27 to play in the second quarter, Alexander-Walker jumped a 76ers passing lane picked off a pass for Jared McCain on the wing. Alexander-Walker took off, and Johnson trailed closely behind him. Alexander-Walker dumped off a quick behind-the-back bounce pass to Johnson for a one-handed dunk.

Roughly 40 seconds later, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey lost his dribble and Daniels quickly grabbed the loose ball. As he dribbled downhill, he went up in the air where Joel Embiid contested the look. Daniels turned and found Onyeka Okongwu for a layup.

What they said

“Just late game execution. You come up on one more rebound, it changes the narrative. You know, we’re 10 minutes fresher, probably on a plane right now, you know, and then we could have avoided losing. So, credit to (us) finding a way to get it back. But honestly, the small things.” Alexander-Walker on what led to the Hawks playing double-overtime.

“Don’t do anything complicated. In a time like that, in overtime, you know who you want taking shots, who you want making plays. And obviously, for us, there was JJ and Nickeil, Dyson, O (Onyeka Okongwu). So, you just, you got to know your job.” -- Vit Krejci on his mindset coming off the bench in overtime.

“I think just playing with the ball in the hands is a bit more, it allows me to create for others, and that’s where I get the assist. And for me, crashing is a big thing that I’m trying to do. So on the offensive glass, trying to get rebounds, tip outs. Defensive glass coming in, helping the bigs out. So, I mean, I’ve been close about four or five times this year, but we’ll get one soon.” -- Daniels on what has allowed him to get close to a triple-double.

Up next

The Hawks return to the court on Monday in Detroit against the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. This is the second time the Hawks will face the Pistons, with a third matchup between the two teams scheduled on Dec. 12 in Detroit.