Johnson in action | Image Credits: IMAGO/Zuma Press Wire
Jalen Johnson produced his second triple-double of the season and the Atlanta Hawks held off the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 130-123 on Friday in NBA Cup play.
Johnson finished with 29 points, shooting 9-for-18 from the floor, to go with 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
Atlanta has won three of its last four, while Cleveland has lost two in a row. Both teams finished 2-2 in East Group A and were eliminated from the NBA Cup.
The Hawks broke a 123-123 tie inside the final two minutes with back-to-back 3-pointers by Zaccharie Risacher and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Alexander-Walker finished with 30 points and Risacher had 14 points. Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwu scored 18 and Vit Krejci added 14 off the bench.
Cleveland was led by Donovan Mitchell with 42 points, his 21st career game with 40-plus points. Mitchell tied the game 123-123 with a jumper at 1:36, but the Cavs failed to score another point.
The Cavaliers got 20 points and 14 rebounds from Evan Mobley and 15 points and 10 assists from Darius Garland. Former Hawk De'Andre Hunter scored 16 in his return to Atlanta.
Cleveland scored the first seven points of the game, but Atlanta led 33-23 after one quarter.
The momentum shifted back toward the Cavaliers early in the second period after Hunter dunked on Mouhamed Gueye, who swung in retaliation and was called for a technical foul. It was part of a 14-0 Cleveland run and helped the Cavaliers claw their way to a 62-60 lead at halftime.
Atlanta shot 66.7% from the floor in the third quarter, with Johnson scoring 11, and led 97-90 after three quarters. The Hawks were ahead 111-103 before Cleveland used a 10-0 run, the first four points from Mobley, to take the lead. The Cavaliers then overcame a five-point disadvantage to tie the game 123-123.
Cleveland was without Sam Merrill (right hand sprain) and Craig Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain). The Hawks were without Kristaps Porzingis (illness).
The teams have split two meetings this season. The Hawks have won three straight against the Cavaliers in Atlanta.
