Jalen Johnson pointed to one possession when breaking down the Atlanta Hawks’ 109-108 win over the New York Knicks in Game 3 on Thursday night.
“I think it was just a great all-around possession,” Johnson said. “Everybody locked in and obviously a big play that we made and forcing a turnover in that situation was big time by us. So yeah, it was just a huge stop.”
That defensive stand sealed Atlanta’s 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series after CJ McCollum’s go-ahead jumper with 12.5 seconds left.
Johnson finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, leading the Hawks in scoring while operating as a primary decision-maker.
The forward emphasized the physical nature of the series, especially against a Knicks group built around size and rebounding.
“Yeah, I mean it’s the playoffs, obviously,” Johnson said. “Still trying to adjust to it, still learning. Obviously going back and watching film and trying to match their physicality. I think I did a better job of doing that tonight.”
New York controlled stretches behind OG Anunoby’s 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 21 points and 17 rebounds, but Atlanta’s defensive execution late proved decisive.
Johnson also credited the home crowd at State Farm Arena for impacting the game’s intensity.
“It was amazing,” Johnson said. “I think just the energy they brought from the jump, even the warm-ups. You could feel the energy immediately and that energy is contagious.”
He added that the crowd played a role in maintaining focus during high-pressure moments.
“Everybody understands, protect home court and they made the home court advantage real,” Johnson said. “It was fun playing in front of them tonight.”
Atlanta built an 18-point lead in the first half but had to respond after New York took a 108-105 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Johnson tied the game on a late basket before McCollum delivered the winner, but the forward stressed that the final defensive sequence defined the result.
Tthe Hawks’ ability to defend without fouling and force a turnover in the closing seconds prevented the Knicks from even attempting a final shot.
Looking ahead to Game 4, Johnson outlined the team’s approach.
“I think kind of how we approached it tonight,” Johnson said. “The same mentality, starting off the game with a lot of energy especially on the defensive end.”
He pointed to defensive tone-setting as the key to sustaining momentum in a playoff series where adjustments come quickly.
“If we have that same mentality going into the next game, I think we’ll put ourselves in a good position,” Johnson said.
Atlanta will look to extend its series lead Saturday, with defensive consistency and physical play remaining central to its game plan.
