NBA: Hawks race to victory over short-handed Knicks

Jalen Johnson recorded 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to fuel the visiting Atlanta Hawks to a 116-100 victory over the undermanned New York Knicks on Tuesday.

Johnson made 12 of 17 shots from the floor to fall just two points shy of career high, set during Atlanta’s 141-138 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 3.

De’Andre Hunter scored 22 points off the bench and Dejounte Murray collected 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Hawks, who snapped a two-game skid.

Atlanta’s Saddiq Bey contributed 17 points and nine rebounds and Clint Capela added 13 and nine, respectively.

The Hawks benefited from a 51-40 edge in rebounds and 56-40 advantage in points in the paint to avert a three-game season sweep by the Knicks. New York took its third loss in four games.

New York’s Donte DiVincenzo scored 21 points and Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 off the bench. Precious Achiuwa contributed 15 points and Josh Hart added 14 to go along with eight rebounds for the Knicks, who played without Jalen Brunson (left knee contusion) in addition to OG Anunoby (right elbow surgery), Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery).

New York erased an early 22-point deficit, scoring seven straight points to forge a 76-76 tie in the third quarter, before Atlanta regained its footing. Trent Forrest made a layup, Johnson drained a jumper and Bogdanovic sank a 3-pointer during a 7-2 run to end the third.

Hart made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to trim the Hawks’ lead to 95-91 with 6:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. Murray, however, converted from beyond the arc and made two baskets and Capela added three free throws and two buckets to highlight Atlanta’s 21-9 run to end the game.

Atlanta led 33-15 after the first quarter and pushed its advantage to 42-20 early in the second on a Hunter 3-pointer. New York, however, halved the deficit after going on a 30-19 run to end the half. — Field Level Media/Reuters