Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson offered insight into Monday’s 112-110 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, focusing on team effort and resilience. “Yeah, it was just, we got off a shot and just didn’t make it. That’s about it,” he said regarding the final possession.
Johnson addressed the challenge of staying focused during a difficult stretch. “Obviously losing five in a row is tough, but all you can control is just your next game… I feel like we can do it,” he said, pointing to the upcoming matchup against Memphis.
The Hawks struggled from beyond the arc early, missing their first 21 three-point attempts, yet Johnson highlighted the team’s perseverance. “The good thing about it is we kept shooting… we came out in the second half and we started making shots. That obviously helped,” he explained.
Johnson also touched on the team dynamic and veteran guidance. “CJ is a good vet to have. He’s in constant communication with everybody… thankfully we have two smart guys that came in and they’re adjusting pretty quick,” he said, noting the importance of cohesion with new teammates.
Regarding his own performance, Johnson emphasized continuous improvement. “It’s basketball… I’m not going to play perfect every game, but it’s just about trying to continuously be better… I knew I needed to be better tonight and I just got to be better moving forward,” he said.
Johnson remained focused on team priorities over personal accolades after finishing 8th in the All-Star fan voting. “That’s cool, but I’m more focused on getting back in the win column. That’s priority number one,” he stated.
Despite the Hawks’ late rally, Milwaukee held on with back-to-back threes from AJ Green and Bobby Portis and a Giannis Antetokounmpo drive to finish 109-105 with 36 seconds left. Atlanta still had a chance after Nickeil Alexander-Walker connected from the line, but CJ McCollum’s off-balance shot clanked off, ending the comeback bid.
Johnson finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Alexander-Walker added 32 points. The Hawks fall to 20-25 and will face Memphis on Wednesday, while the Bucks, led by Antetokounmpo’s 21 points and 17 rebounds, improve to 18-24 and host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
