Hawks’ Jalen Johnson posts historic stats during win over Jazz

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson made history Thursday night, posting a stat line never seen before in the NBA.

Johnson’s 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists and seven steals during the 132-122 win over the Utah Jazz were career highs and helped the Hawks to their fourth straight win.

Announcement

The Hawks were playing without Trae Young, out with a knee injury, and Kristaps Porziņģis, out for maintenance.

Young appreciated the show put on by Duke’s 2021 first-round draft pick.

Forward Onyeka Okongwu also had a good night with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Okongwu and Johnson’s statistics made them the second teammates in franchise history to record a 30-point triple-double and a 30-point double-double in the same game. The other couple? Joe Caldwell and Lenny Wilkens, who did so in October 1967, according to the Hawks. Johnson also became the first NBA player since Chris Paul in January 2009 to record a 30-point, seven-steal game.

Announcement

The win helped Atlanta improve to 8-5 as they sit atop the Southeast Division, a half-game ahead of the Miami Heat. It’s a strong start for a Hawks team that has missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and has failed to get past the first round since reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2021.