In a crucial late-season Eastern Conference clash, the Atlanta Hawks secured a solid 108-97 victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena. The win strengthens the Hawks' playoff positioning, while the Nets' hopes took another hit as their offense faltered down the stretch. A decisive 15-4 run by Atlanta in the final six minutes broke open what had been a tightly contested game, showcasing their defensive intensity when it mattered most. The Hawks set the tone early with aggressive drives to the basket, leading by eight points after the first quarter. The Nets, led by their perimeter shooting, clawed back in the second period to tie the game at halftime. The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair with multiple lead changes, but the Hawks' bench provided a critical spark to maintain a slim advantage entering the fourth. The final period saw the Nets' shooting go cold, managing only 18 points as the Hawks' defense locked in, forcing several key turnovers that led to easy transition buckets to seal the game. The focus point was the Hawks' defensive adjustment in the fourth quarter, effectively switching on screens to disrupt the Nets' pick-and-roll actions. Atlanta's backcourt duo was stellar, combining for over 50 points and 15 assists, while the Nets' star guard was held to a inefficient shooting night. There were no major controversies, but a late offensive foul call on a Nets drive effectively ended their comeback attempt with two minutes remaining. With this result, the Hawks move two games above .500 and solidify their hold on a play-in tournament spot. The Nets fall further behind in the standings, now three games out of the final play-in position with time running out. Post-game, the Hawks' coach praised his team's "next-man-up mentality" from the bench, while the Nets' coach lamented the "uncharacteristic lack of ball movement" in the decisive fourth quarter. The Hawks' starting lineup featured Young, Murray, Hunter, Johnson, and Capela, while the Nets started Simmons, Thomas, Bridges, Johnson, and Claxton.