Jalen Johnson helps Hawks torment Sixers with season sweep

Jalen Johnson had 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks completed a four-game season series sweep with a 125-116 victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker had four second-half 3-pointers and finished with 24 points and six assists for Atlanta, which won its season-high sixth straight game. The Hawks have won five straight at home.

Johnson and Alexander-Walker made back-to-back 3-pointers as part of a 12-2 fourth-quarter run that took a tie game to a 10-point, 114-104 Hawks advantage.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia, which lost for the third time in four games, with 31 points. Quentin Grimes scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half, while Kelly Oubre Jr. returned to the lineup after missing one game and had 24 points and five rebounds.

Joel Embiid missed his fourth straight contest with a strained right oblique, while rookie VJ Edgecombe missed his second straight game with a back contusion.

Maxey had 15 first-quarter points as Philadelphia took a double-digit lead in the first quarter and stayed in front for the rest of the half, despite Johnson’s 13 second-quarter points.

Both teams were hot throughout the first half. The Sixers shot 65.2% (30 for 46) from the field, including 61.5% (8 for 13) from beyond the arc.

Atlanta responded by shooting 63.9% from the field (23 of 36) and 50% (5 for 10) from 3-point land. The Hawks were able to stay close at the break thanks to shooting 88% (15 for 17) from the foul line in the half.

Alexander-Walker had three 3-pointers in the third quarter as Atlanta took its first lead since the game’s early minutes. Despite Grimes’ 10 points in the quarter, Philadelphia was outscored, 31-21.

CJ McCollum added 17 points and seven assists for Atlanta, which is two games over .500 for the first time since mid-December. Dyson Daniels contributed 15 points and nine rebounds, and Onyeka Okongwu chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The 76ers will no doubt be pleased to know they don’t have to face Johnson anymore this year, at least in the regular season. He scored 35 or more points three times against Philadelphia this season. He posted four double-doubles and one triple-double.

Trendon Watford had 10 points for the Sixers, followed by Jabari Walker with nine points and five rebounds, Andre Drummond with seven rebounds, and Cam Payne with six assists.

–Field Level Media