Hawks Vs 76ers: Hawks Win 117-107 as Jalen Johnson’s 32 Points Help Atlanta After All-Star Break

In the hawks vs 76ers matchup on Thursday, the Atlanta Hawks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 117-107 in the teams' first game after the All-Star break. The result halted Atlanta’s three-game skid and extended its season series edge over Philadelphia.

What happened and what’s new

Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with a 32-point, 10-rebound performance, while CJ McCollum added 23 points. Role contributors for Atlanta included Dyson Daniels with 15 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker with 14, and both Zaccharie Risacher and Jock Landale chipping in 10 points each. Atlanta built an 11-point lead with about six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and after a late Philadelphia rally narrowed the margin to 108-104 with under three minutes left, the Hawks closed on a 9-3 run highlighted by five late points from Johnson. Johnson also made 14 of 16 free-throw attempts in the game.

Philadelphia played without center Joel Embiid, who did not take the floor because of soreness in his right shin while participating in a right knee injury management program over the break. Team medical staff provided daily treatment and the player progressed through on-court work and strength and conditioning. The team's coach said the plan was to have him on the court on Friday and to judge availability from there; the coach added he did not anticipate a long absence. Embiid’s season averages at the time were 26. 6 points, 7. 5 rebounds and 3. 6 assists in 31 games.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia in scoring, with the game accounts listing him at 28 points in one summary and 27 points in another. Rising Stars MVP VJ Edgecombe added 20 points. The loss was Philadelphia’s third straight and their fourth loss in five games. Philadelphia’s next scheduled game is at New Orleans on Saturday.

Hawks Vs 76ers: Behind the headline

The result matters in several immediate ways. Atlanta ended a three-game losing run and recorded its third win over Philadelphia this season. For Philadelphia, the absence of their center created a pronounced lineup shift: the team attempted to compensate without its primary interior option and saw increased burdens on perimeter creation and finishing.

Key stakeholders include the Hawks players who converted role minutes into scoring contributions and the Sixers’ rotation players who absorbed additional responsibility in Embiid’s absence. The coach’s timeline for Embiid’s return serves as a critical constraint for Philadelphia’s near-term plans; a short absence could ease roster pressure, while any extension would force continued lineup adjustments. The Hawks, by contrast, gained immediate momentum from multiple contributors stepping up in the post-break opener.

What we still don’t know

• Exact status of Joel Embiid for upcoming games beyond the coach’s intent to get him on the court on Friday (still developing).
• Definitive single-box-score confirmation of Tyrese Maxey’s point total, given differing tallies in available game summaries (27 vs. 28).
• Whether the Hawks’ late-game defensive execution that closed the contest will be repeatable against other opponents.
• How Philadelphia will reconfigure rotations and shot creation if Embiid’s absence persists.

What happens next

• Short recovery scenario: Embiid resumes on-court work Friday, is cleared to play soon, and Philadelphia returns to a more regular rotation—trigger: medical clearance and on-court practice availability.
• Extended absence scenario: Embiid requires additional rest or treatment, forcing Philadelphia to rely on perimeter scoring and alternative frontcourt options—trigger: persistent shin soreness or medical recommendations to limit activity.
• Hawks momentum scenario: Atlanta builds on the win with improved role-player production and uses the victory to stabilize its stretch after the break—trigger: continued scoring contributions from bench players in subsequent games.
• Adjustment battle scenario: Philadelphia tweaks lineups to cover interior defense and floor spacing, creating new offensive looks around Maxey and other perimeter options—trigger: next-game performance and coach adjustments.

Why it matters

Near-term, the result shifts immediate standings dynamics between the two teams and affects short-term scheduling and rotation decisions. For Philadelphia, managing Embiid’s shin soreness is a medical and strategic priority that directly influences how the team scores, defends and preserves player health across a compact schedule. For Atlanta, the spread of scoring across starters and role players provided a blueprint for winning without leaning on a single star.

In the coming days, monitoring updates on Embiid’s availability and the Hawks’ ability to reproduce late-game execution will determine whether this game is an isolated outcome or a sign of changing trajectories for either club.