​LAS VEGAS — The Brooklyn Nets (1-1) entered Saturday’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks (2-0) hoping to stretch their winning streak to two in as many days, even as Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. sat out. Brooklyn still possessed a full roster otherwise to test itself against Kingston Flemings and the Hawks, but the Nets faltered in the fourth quarter, letting go of the rope as Atlanta pulled away. The Hawks defeated Brooklyn 83-76, outscoring the Nets 26-16 in the final period, with key contributions from Kobe Johnson and Zuby Ejiofor.
In a game featuring several notable individual efforts, Chaney Johnson posted a 20-point, 10-rebound, five-steal double-double for Brooklyn, while forward Danny Wolf added 20 points and five rebounds. For Atlanta, Johnson came off the bench to finish with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, and Ejiofor contributed 13 points and six rebounds. The Nets struggled from long range, shooting a mere 8 percent from three-point distance, and turnovers (21 in total) allowed the Hawks to repeatedly push transition opportunities for easy scores.
Nets observers graded the performances with a focus on how players handled increased roles without Demin and Brown Jr. Saraf, who stepped into a larger ball-handling responsibility, did well to facilitate Brooklyn’s offense. He wasn’t exceptionally efficient on offense, frequently fighting through contact to finish at the rim, but he forced multiple trips to the free-throw line and contributed solid defense, illustrating his value as a playmaker and a pest at the point of attack.
Powell, meanwhile, continued a rough shooting stretch, underscoring his growing pains in finding easier baskets rather than attempting contested shots over his defender. His shooting struggles overshadowed a solid defensive effort and sound ball-handling work, but his offensive development remains the primary hurdle the Nets must clear this offseason.
Jefferson finally debuted in Brooklyn’s summer league slate, now that the Julius Randle trade has been finalized, earning extended court time. He did not shoot well from the floor, but he demonstrated readiness to run the floor at pace and showed active hands on the defensive end, even though he hadn’t received much practice time with the team.
Wolf delivered a strong overall scoring presence, driving the lane with authority and showing a willingness to mix in post-play to compensate for a cold outside shot. He excelled at grabbing rebounds amid the trees, yet his ball security wavered when pressure came on the perimeter, highlighting a recurring theme of ball-control under duress.
Johnson’s recent stretch of strong play since the summer league began has people taking notice, and this game only amplified the attention he’s drawing. He appears to be handling a broad array of responsibilities for Brooklyn, contributing across scoring, rebounding, and defense. Given how consistently he has been involved on both ends of the floor, there will be plenty of discussion about his performance in the wake of this game. As Brooklyn continues through the summer league slate, Johnson’s all-around impact will remain a focal point for evaluators and fans alike.