Jalen Johnson scored 29 points, Dyson Daniels recorded a triple-double, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 22 as the Atlanta Hawks beat the Denver Nuggets 110-87 at Ball Arena on Friday. Atlanta outscored Denver 36-12 in the fourth quarter to secure their first game since trading Trae Young.
Daniels finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, fueling the Hawks’ late surge. The victory lifted Atlanta to 19-21, while Denver fell to 25-13 and struggled without key starters.
The Nuggets were missing Nikola Jokic (hyperextended left knee), Jonas Valanciunas (calf), Jamal Murray (ankle), and Spencer Jones (ankle). Peyton Watson led Denver with 25 points, and Aaron Gordon added 14 off the bench in his third game back from a 19-game absence due to a hamstring injury.
Atlanta dealt with absences as well, with Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) not dressing and CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert yet to join the team following the Trae Young trade.
Atlanta held an early lead of 11 in the first half and saw Denver take a brief four-point advantage late in the third following a 14-2 run. The Hawks responded with a 10-0 stretch and a 23-3 run across the third and fourth quarters to take control at 94-78.
The Hawks shot 49% from the field and 37% from 3-point range, while the Nuggets managed 42% overall and 34% from deep. Daniels’ triple-double highlighted Atlanta’s balanced attack, with five starters scoring in double figures.
Atlanta continues its four-game road trip at Golden State on Sunday. Denver will host Milwaukee to conclude its homestand, still dealing with injuries that have disrupted rotation consistency.
