1 minute, 26 seconds of lead time: Hawks edge Nets 124-121

Highlights

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1 minute and 26 seconds. That was the Atlanta Hawks' entire share of the lead in a game they won 124-121 over the Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena. Brooklyn controlled the scoreboard for 45 minutes, 53 seconds, built a 17-point cushion and still lost.

The Nets opened hard, taking the first quarter 37-27. Atlanta answered with a 39-33 second, trimming the gap to four at the break. Another tight frame went to Brooklyn, 25-22, and the visitors were up nine heading into the fourth.

Then it flipped. The Hawks' fourth quarter read 36-26, built on a 10-point run, the biggest surge of the night. Dyson Daniels made it 121-116, and Onyeka Okongwu and Aaron Wiggins added single points for 123-116. Michael Porter Jr. answered with two free throws, 123-118, before Okongwu's free throw — the last point of the game — set the final score, 124-121.

Jalen Johnson carried the swing: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists on 65% shooting. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20. Okongwu finished with 16 points, 3 blocks and a +15; the Hawks out-blocked Brooklyn 9-1. Porter Jr. led the Nets with 25 points and 9 rebounds, Nolan Traore scored 19 on 80% shooting with 5 steals, and Julius Randle added 19 points, 8 assists.

The margins hid in the details: 12 Atlanta turnovers against 22 for Brooklyn, an 11-10 edge in steals, and a Hawks team that never led by more than 7 — yet banked the game's only double-digit run.

Brooklyn took the rebound battle and lost the only count that goes on record: the scoreboard. Atlanta never needed the lead for long. It needed it last.