Hawks Triumph Over Nets 117-112 Despite Trae Young’s Injury

In a night brimming with tension and high stakes at the Barclays Center, the Atlanta Hawks managed to outlast the Brooklyn Nets, clinching a gritty 117-112 victory. The win did not come easy — it was a battle of nerves, resilience, and shifting momentum, especially after the Hawks lost their engine, Trae Young, to a heart-stopping knee injury early in the first quarter. From the opening tip, it seemed the night would belong to the Nets. Brooklyn jumped out to a scorching 12-0 lead, sending shockwaves through the Atlanta bench. The Hawks looked dazed, missing their first six shots, the crowd sensing blood in the water. But as if awakened by the adversity, Jalen Johnson broke the drought, and suddenly Atlanta’s offense erupted, answering with a barrage of buckets and slicing the deficit to a single point. It was Johnson — who would finish with a stunning 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists — who set the tone for Atlanta’s remarkable comeback. The first quarter, however, delivered a cruel twist. On an out-of-bounds play, Mouhamed Gueye was pushed and collided violently with Trae Young’s knee. The arena fell silent as Young, the four-time All-Star, clutched his leg in agony. Though he attempted to play on, it was clear something was wrong, and moments later the Hawks’ leader disappeared into the locker room, soon ruled out with a right knee sprain. Atlanta’s hopes seemed to hang by a thread. Yet, this was a night where adversity forged heroes. The Hawks, undaunted, found scoring from unexpected places. Luke Kennard, the NBA’s active leader in career 3-point percentage, lit up the Nets from deep, draining four of his five shots from beyond the arc and finishing with 17 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 points, while Onyeka Okongwu anchored the paint with 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. By halftime, the Hawks had built a commanding 64-51 lead, at one point stretching their advantage to 17 points. But the third quarter, a notorious trouble spot for Atlanta this season, threatened to undo their work. Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. caught fire, pouring in a season-high 32 points and single-handedly dragging the Nets back within striking distance. Cam Thomas (19 points) and Nic Claxton (18 points, 12 rebounds) battled fiercely, keeping Brooklyn’s hopes alive. The final minutes were played on a knife’s edge. Porter’s clutch free throws trimmed the lead to 115-112 with under two minutes remaining. The Nets, still searching for their first win of the season, had multiple chances to tie, but missed their last five shots — heartbreak for the home crowd, relief for the visitors. For the Hawks, this win was more than just another notch in the standings. It was a testament to resilience, to the power of belief in the face of adversity. For the Nets, now 0-5 for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign, the search for answers — and a victory — continues. Next up, Atlanta faces the Indiana Pacers, eager to build on this hard-fought triumph. Brooklyn, meanwhile, will host the Philadelphia 76ers, still desperate to end their early-season drought. For now, the night belongs to Jalen Johnson and a Hawks squad that refused to surrender, even as fate tried to write them off early. Read more on the ESPN Hawks vs Nets box score and get the official NBA recap at AP NBA.