"ATL ReKap's First Blog of 2024: Jalen Johnson Soars as Hawks Edge Thunder 141-138 in Thriller"

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the first blog of the 2024 year on ATL ReKap. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year and made some resolutions. Let’s get straight into it.

Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, beating them 141-138, with Jalen Johnson hitting another career high in points two nights in a row. Jalen Johnson put up 28 points tonight, going 11-18 from the field and 2-4 from beyond the arch. Johnson has been an absolute beast, continuing to posterize his defenders.

With 6:40 left in the 2nd quarter, JJ had a behind-the-back ball move confusing Isaiah Joe, then going up to the rim with a powerful slam, posterizing Josh Giddey that had everyone on their feet. Again, with 27 seconds in the 2nd quarter, the 22-year-old obliterated Chet Holmgren with a one-hand dunk to put two on the board. It had everyone in State Farm Arena on their feet full of excitement. Johnson put up 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals tonight.

Trae Young followed Jalen Johnson in scoring, putting up 24 points tonight, going 6-13 from the field, and 2-9 from beyond the arch. Young put up 4 rebounds, 11 assists, and some of those assists were nasty. Young turned into a QB in the second with a powerful sidearm pass across the corners of the arch to Bogi for an easy corner three. Another of those assists included a difficult pass to Clint Capela while he was in the air, which proceeded for Capela to meet his hands with the rim, putting up 2 points for the Hawks.

Dejounte Murray scored 22 points tonight, going 8-18 from the field and 2-5 from beyond the arch. Murray put up a total of 6 rebounds and 6 assists tonight. Saddiq Bey was big for the Hawks' first-half push, putting up 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 three-pointers. Bey finished off the game with 10 points, going 3-12 from the field and 2-8 from beyond the arch, putting up 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.

Clint Capela continued to shine in the paint, putting up 12 points, going 5-8 from the field, with 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Off the bench, star player Bogdan Bogdanovich shined, putting up 23 points, going 7-16 from the field and 5-11 from the three-point range. Bogi had our heads spinning in the first with a 360 three-pointer, getting the ball through the basket without touching the rim. Bogi put up a rebound, 4 assists, and a steal tonight.

Onyeka Okongwu followed Bogi in scoring off the bench, putting up 11 points, going 3-4 from the field, with 7 rebounds, and a steal.

This game was definitely a great one, but one thing the Hawks need to work on is keeping their leads in the 4th. This is when the Hawks start to get lazy, especially when they are in front, and let teams score and cut the lead down, possibly forcing the game's outcomes to switch sides. When the fourth started tonight, the Hawks were up 13, and they brought that lead to finish the game with only a one-score lead. So, this is something the Hawks need to work on to win more games for sure.

The Atlanta Hawks are set to play Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers on Friday evening at 7:00 PM. The Pacers are favored to win 59% to 41%. This will definitely be a great game to watch, and I will catch you all after the game with a recap!