If it feels like the Hawks and the Nets just played, it’s because it’s only been a couple of weeks since the two teams last played. They both looked a little different than when they last played.

Jalen Johnson was still healthy for the Hawks in the last meeting between these two, but he is still recovering from a wrist injury. Nets guard Cam Thomas was not able to play in the last meeting and he was a starter for the Nets tonight.

Atlanta kept the same starting lineup for the game tonight. Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, and Clint Capea. Brooklyn started Cam Thomas, Spencer Dinwiddie, Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and Nic Claxton.

The last game was a shootout led by Bridges and Young and in the first quarter, both players helped their offenses get off to a great start.

Atlanta took a 17-12 lead going into the first timeout and the Hawks defense seemed more aggressive than it had been in the past few games. Capela was helping trap the ball carrier at the top and was causing turnovers from Brooklyn and that was a new wrinkle. Johnson scored eight early points, including a pair of corner threes.

Onyeka Okongwu, Garrison Matthews, and Bogdan Bogdanovic were the first subs in the game for Atlanta. Wesley Matthews also got minutes in the first half.

Brooklyn’s three-point shooting was what kept them alive in the early going. Atlanta would keep a close lead, but the Nets hit six of their first eight three-point attempts, but were not shooting well otherwise. The finished the first quarter shooting 66.7% from three and trailed 33-31.

Brooklyn got off to a 10-6 start to the second quarter, but both teams would not shoot as well as they did in the opening quarter. After starting the game 6-8 from three, the Nets would only hit two of their next nine.

Atlanta was able to grab a three-point lead (56-53) at the half thanks to a buzzer-beating floater from Hunter. The Hawks were shooting 45.2% from the field and 20.0% from three. They did not hit a three in the second quarter. Trae Young had 11 points and five assists, Murray stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Bey had 10 points and four rebounds.

Brooklyn shot 36.7% from the field in the first half and 47.1% from three. Cam Johnson had 15 points and three rebounds while Bridges had nine points.

The first game was dominated by a pair of 40+ point games from Young and Bridges and in the third quarter, the two stars took over again.

Young scored 11 in the quarter and Bridges scored 13 in the quarter to give them both 22 points going into the fourth quarter. Muray was nearing a triple-double and Bogi had 14 off the bench. Atlanta led 82-81 going into the final quarter and it looked like it was going to be a fantastic finish like the first game.

The two teams went back-and-forth to start the quarter and the Nets were leading by two with under nine minutes to play when Bogdanovic hit a big three to take the lead 90-89. It should be noted that Quin Snyder started the quarter with Okongwu and Capela on the floor together, but not for long. I think the defense is noticeably better when they share the floor together, but the lineup is still seldom used.

After the Nets got the lead back 98-96, Bogdanovic came down the court to hit a massive three for the lead yet again and the Hawks were back in front 99-98 with five minutes remaining. Brooklyn would call a timeout and both Capela and Young would check back in. It looked like the Hawks were going to close with their starters.

After a Capela putback, the Hawks led by three, but buckets from Bridges and Dinwiddie gave the lead back to Brooklyn with 3:23 left. Snyder called a timeout after that to get his team on the same page for the final few minutes. Poor offense in crunch time helped lead to a loss in Milwaukee on Saturday so this was a test to see if it would be any different.

After a Brooklyn miss, Murray brought the ball up the floor and found Young for a deep three and Atlanta led the game by two. Dinwiddie hit a shot to tie it up and then a three to go in front by three. Capela would have a bucket on the other end, but Brooklyn once again answered with a basket from Bridges with 1:33 left. The Nets led by three and Atlanta needed a stop.

After a good defensive stand, Young hit one of his floaters off the glass to cut it to a one-point lead. Once again, the Hawks need a stop.

And they got it.

With the clock now under a minute and the Hawks down one, Murray drove to the basket for what looked like an easy layup, but it was just off. Luckily for him and the rest of the Hawks, Saddiq Bey came charging in for a putback dunk. The crowd was roaring in State Farm Arena, but unfortunately, the basket did not count, but a foul was called on Finney-Smith and Bey went to the line. to try and take the lead.

Bey nailed them both and Atlanta led 110-109 with 35.4 seconds left in the game.

It was going to be another heart-stopping finish between the Nets and Hawks.

Brooklyn inbounded the ball and Dinwiddie found Bridges under the basket for the lead. Atlanta missed the basket on the other end and had to foul Dinwiddie with 24.3 seconds left.

He split the pair of free throws and the Hawks trailed 112-110 with 22.2 left in the game. Snyder called a timeout to get his offense set. Bogdanovic would replace Bey and the Hawks could tie or win the game.

Young got the ball, took a few dribbles, and nailed a step-back three to take the lead.

Brooklyn immediately drove the ball down the court, got it to Bridges, and he nailed a jumper over Hunter to take the lead back 114-113 with 4.5 seconds left. Snyder called another timeout and the Hawks had one last chance to win it.

Young drove to the basket but could not get the shot to go in. This finish did not go the Hawks way and Brooklyn won 114-113. It looked like a foul and both Young and Snyder argued for it, but to no avail.

The Hawks shot 44.7% from the field for the game and 34.3% from three. Young had 30 points and nine assists, Bey had 21 points, Bogdanovic had 20 points, and Murray finished one assist shy of a triple-double.

Brooklyn shot 45.7% from the field and 40.7% from three. Bridges finished with 32 points.

It was another disappointing finish and now the Hawks are 9-11. They are now 1-4 since losing Jalen Johnson to injury.

Atlanta hits the road for their next game. They will take on the 76ers on Friday.