Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson push Hawks past Mavericks, extending streak to seven wins
Atlanta closes strong after Dallas rally to secure 124-112 win at State Farm Arena
The Atlanta Hawks extended their winning streak to seven games Tuesday night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 124-112 at State Farm Arena in a game that tightened late before Atlanta’s finish decided it.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 29 points, while Jalen Johnson added 27. Atlanta improved to 34-31, while Dallas fell to 21-44. The result also extended the Mavericks’ skid to eight straight losses.
Fourth-quarter response turns a tie game into a closing run
Atlanta controlled most of the night but did not create sustained separation until the final period. Dallas tied the game 97-97 with just over nine minutes remaining on a step-back jumper by Khris Middleton, bringing the building to a tense reset moment after a Mavericks push.
The Hawks responded with a decisive stretch that included back-to-back three-pointers from Alexander-Walker in the closing minutes. Atlanta’s shot-making, coupled with improved containment on the perimeter, allowed the Hawks to move from a late tie to a double-digit final margin without surrendering control again.
Balanced Hawks production behind the two leading scorers
Beyond the top scorers, Atlanta received key contributions across the rotation. Dyson Daniels finished with 14 points and 10 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu posted 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. The Hawks’ ability to generate offense from multiple positions helped stabilize possessions when Dallas threatened to turn the game into a track meet.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 29 points
- Jalen Johnson: 27 points
- Onyeka Okongwu: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks
- Dyson Daniels: 14 points, 10 assists
Dallas relies on veteran scoring as rookie faces defensive pressure
Klay Thompson led Dallas with 21 points, providing much of the late-game shot creation that helped the Mavericks erase portions of Atlanta’s lead. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg scored 14 points on 6-for-16 shooting and spent much of the night defended by Daniels, one of Atlanta’s primary perimeter stoppers.
Streak context and playoff positioning
The seven-game run is Atlanta’s longest since the 2021-22 season. Six of the seven wins in the current streak have come at home, and the stretch brought the Hawks to 16-16 at State Farm Arena, reaching .500 on their home floor for the first time since late November.
The Hawks entered the night positioned ninth in the Eastern Conference, with their late-season push aimed at climbing out of the play-in range. Dallas, meanwhile, has lost 18 of its past 20 games.
Up next: The Hawks host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, and the Mavericks visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.