Jalen Johnson leads Atlanta to victory over Memphis with 32 points and 15 rebounds

Jalen Johnson delivered a masterful performance with 32 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a tight 124-122 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. This win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Hawks.

Luke Kennard and Onyeka Okongwu added 18 points each for Atlanta, while Ja Morant led Memphis with 23 points and 12 assists. The Grizzlies point guard had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but his 3-point attempt missed the mark.

Jalen Johnson with yet another STAT-STUFFING performance 😲

🏀 32 PTS
🏀 15 REB
🏀 8 AST

He joins Bob Pettit as the only players in Hawks franchise history to total 30+ PTS, 15+ REB and 8+ AST in multiple games! pic.twitter.com/5NU2WJGJ28

— NBA (@NBA) January 22, 2026

A thrilling finish with 21 lead changes

The game was remarkably intense with 21 lead changes and 14 ties. Memphis led 110-108 with 5 minutes and 39 seconds remaining, but Atlanta reeled off eight consecutive points, capped by two Johnson free throws. The Grizzlies never regained the lead after that.

Cedric Coward kept the suspense alive with a 3-pointer that brought Memphis within 122-121 with 1 minute and 9 seconds left. Jalen Johnson answered with a crucial basket in the paint with 40 seconds remaining to keep Memphis at bay.

Luke Kennard, a former elite shooter for Memphis during three seasons, was perfect early in the game by making his first six shots, including four 3-pointers. His 16 first-half points helped the Hawks lead 66-59 at halftime, extending their streak to 37 consecutive games with at least ten 3-pointers made.

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Morant takes responsibility despite the loss

After the game, Ja Morant took responsibility for the defeat, pointing to his five turnovers: « I don’t think the last play is the reason we lost the game. I had a lot of turnovers that put us in that position. »

The Grizzlies point guard also addressed the missed buzzer-beater: « I could have let Jaylen (Wells) bring the ball up, we could have called a timeout, I could have passed the ball, I could have found a better shot, but we’re on the other side. It’s over. »

This loss comes in a particular context for Morant, who was playing his first home game since the announcement that Memphis would consider trade offers involving him. The Hawks will visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday, while Memphis will host the New Orleans Pelicans.

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