The Atlanta Hawks overcame a 17-point deficit behind an unexpected hero Monday night, as Vit Krejci erupted for a career-high 28 points to lift the Hawks to a thrilling 105–102 victory over the Los Angeles
Clippers at Intuit Dome. The win marked Atlanta’s second straight, as they have gone 5-2 in their last seven games.
The Hawks trailed by as many as 17 early in the game but rallied impressively down the stretch. A number of clutch plays and momentum swings in the fourth quarter helped Atlanta pull ahead and hold on.
The Hawks found themselves in a deep early hole, trailing 36–19 midway through the second quarter. But when Krejci checked in, everything changed. The Czech guard torched the Clippers’ defense, knocking down 8-of-10 three-pointers, including several momentum-shifting shots that pulled Atlanta back into contention.
By halftime, the Hawks had erased the deficit to tie the game 52–52, thanks to Krejci’s perimeter barrage and the team’s defensive adjustments that slowed James Harden’s early rhythm.
After the break, Atlanta’s balance and ball movement began to wear the Clippers down. Kristaps Porziņģis added 20 points and controlled the paint on both ends, while Jalen Johnson contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in another all-around effort.
The Hawks entered the fourth quarter with a slim 79–76 lead, but the game quickly turned into a shootout between Krejci and Harden. Each traded big buckets down the stretch as momentum swung back and forth in the final minutes.
James Harden nearly carried Los Angeles to victory with a massive 35-point, 11-assist, 10-rebound triple-double. His fourth-quarter scoring flurry, including a four-point play, cut the Hawks’ lead to a single possession with under 30 seconds remaining.
But once again, Krejci answered by banking in a deep three from the wing to put Atlanta ahead 105–98. The Hawks were without Trae Young (knee) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (back), but their depth shined. Porziņģis’ interior presence and Krejci’s breakout performance anchored an effort that underscored Atlanta’s deep bench.
