Jalen Johnson leads Atlanta to victory against Philadelphia

The Atlanta Hawks got back on track with a 117–107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in their first game after the All-Star break. It was a balanced team effort, led by Jalen Johnson, who turned in a strong double-double with 32 points and 10 rebounds.

An efficient Hawks offense led by Johnson and McCollum

CJ McCollum provided the perfect complement with 23 points, helping Atlanta snap a three-game losing streak. The Hawks also got solid contributions across the board — Dyson Daniels (15 points), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (14), and both Zaccharie Risacher and Jock Landale adding 10 apiece.

The win gives Atlanta its third victory over Philadelphia this season, reinforcing a clear edge in the matchup. Johnson was especially reliable late, knocking down 14 of his 16 free throws to help close it out.

Jalen Johnson dominated in the Hawks road win 😤

32 PTS
10 REB
5 AST
3 STL pic.twitter.com/RKgPDVTnPo

— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2026

Philadelphia fights despite Embiid’s absence

Philadelphia leaned heavily on Tyrese Maxey, who paced the offense with 28 points, while Rising Stars MVP VJ Edgecombe added 20 in support. Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in 17, and Quentin Grimes scored 14 — including 10 in the first half. Andre Drummond controlled the glass with a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Still, the absence of Joel Embiid loomed large. The All-Star center was sidelined with right tibia soreness, which the team said surfaced during his knee management program over the All-Star break. Head coach Nick Nurse noted pregame that the plan is for Embiid to return Friday and then reassess, adding that he doesn’t expect the issue to linger long-term.

LIRE AUSSI

Joel Embiid out against Atlanta due to right shin soreness

19 févr. 2026

Nicolas Flamecourt

A controlled finish by Atlanta

After building an 11-point lead with about six minutes remaining, the Hawks saw Philadelphia cut it to 108-104 with less than three minutes left. Atlanta responded with a decisive 9-3 run, with Johnson scoring five crucial points in that final sequence.

This defeat marks the third consecutive loss for the 76ers, who have won only one of their last five games. Embiid, averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 31 games this season, remains a key element for Philadelphia’s campaign going forward.