Hawks Beat 76ers 142-134 in Double OT on Johnson's 41 Points

In a thrilling double-overtime battle, Jalen Johnson erupted for a career-high 41 points and 14 rebounds, capping his performance with consecutive 3-pointers to secure a 142-134 victory for the Atlanta Hawks over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night in Philadelphia.

The win marked the Hawks' fourth in their last five games, extending their strong November run despite playing without injured guard Trae Young. Johnson snapped a 132-132 tie in the second overtime with his third 3-pointer of the game, then drained another on the ensuing possession to give Atlanta an insurmountable lead. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 34 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, including two crucial free throws with 1.1 seconds left in the first overtime that tied the score at 126 and forced the extra period.

For the 76ers, the loss highlighted ongoing challenges with injuries, even as star center Joel Embiid returned after missing nine consecutive games. The 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player, sidelined since a November 8 win over Toronto due to recovery from April surgery on his left knee and subsequent right knee soreness, played 30 minutes and scored 18 points in his comeback. Embiid's availability...