Hawks erase 21-point deficit by scoring 50 in the 4th quarter in a 141-133 win over the Bulls

ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson had a career-high 30 points and the Atlanta Hawks rallied from a late 21-point deficit by scoring 50 points in the fourth quarter in a 141-133 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

Atlanta trailed 124-107 with 6:23 remaining in the game and used a 23-2 run to take its first lead since the first quarter.

Johnson added 15 rebounds and Trae Young scored 27 points, surpassing the 11,000 career point mark, and added 13 assists as the Hawks won their second straight.

Zach LaVine scored a season-high 37 points in the loss. Jevon Carter scored 19 of his 26 points in the first quarter as the Bulls lost their third straight despite shooting 54% (53 for 98) from the field.

Bulls: The Bulls trailed by seven points early before going on a 31-12 run in the first quarter for a 33-21 lead after a period. They held the lead until late in the fourth quarter.

Hawks: De'Andre Hunter, who scored 25 points, has finished with 15 or more points off the bench in 13 consecutive games. It's the longest such streak for a reserve player in Hawks' history. Six Atlanta players scored in double figures.

With three minutes to go in the game, Young hit a tying 3-pointer — the first deadlock since the opener quarter — that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Seconds later, Johnson took a steal down the floor and scored on a jam to give Atlanta the lead.

Chicago hit 22 3-pointers, good for a franchise-record 31st straight game in which the Bulls have made at least 10 3s.

Atlanta hosts the Miami Heat, and Chicago hosts the Milwaukee Bucks. Both games are Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) moves against Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) celebrates a basket against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) shoots against Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Chicago Bulls forward Julian Phillips (15) shoots against Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) shoots against Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder speaks to players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) grabs a rebound against Chicago Bulls forward Julian Phillips (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) celebrates a dunk against against the Chicago Bulls in the closing seconds during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Enzo Maresca left his post as Chelsea head coach on Thursday after a reported deterioration in his relationship with the Premier League club’s hierarchy.

The Italian coach was midway through his second season in charge. In his first season, he won the Conference League and Club World Cup.

Last month, Maresca said he had experienced his “worst” 48 hours at Chelsea and expressed his unhappiness at a lack of support at the club, but didn’t go into specific reasons.

Chelsea is in fifth place in the Premier League, but has won just one of its last seven league matches, and has advanced to the English League Cup semifinals, where it will play Arsenal over two legs.

“With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football," Chelsea said in a statement, "Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.”

Chelsea is coming off a 2-2 home draw against Bournemouth in the league on Tuesday, and next plays second-place Manchester City away on Sunday.

The club said Chelsea's achievements under Maresca “will remain an important part of the club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the club.”

There was no immediate word on his potential successor, with Chelsea seeking a fifth full-time manager since the takeover of the club by American investors, fronted by Todd Boehly, in May 2022.

In the past 3 1/2 years, Chelsea has spent hundreds of million of pounds (dollars) in what looked from the outside a chaotic bid to sign players to refresh its squad. It now has one of the youngest and most talented squads in the Premier League, with star players including Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Estevao, but managers have struggled to get the players to gel as a team after so many changes.

Out of all the managers to have led Chelsea in that period — and they include Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino, the current coaches of England and the United States, respectively — Maresca appeared to have handled the chaos the best.

Yet he reportedly didn't feel appreciated given the tough working conditions and, according to the BBC, recently switched agents. A few weeks ago, media reports in England linked Maresca with a possible move to Man City — where he briefly worked under Pep Guardiola — should Guardiola eventually leave, though Maresca played the reports down.

Chelsea's results have taken a downturn in recent weeks, since a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League in November.

The team's only league win in the past month was a 2-0 over Everton. There have been draws with Arsenal, Newcastle and Bournemouth (twice) and losses to Leeds and Aston Villa.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Chelsea, in Bergamo, Italy, on Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

FILE - Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca sits on a bench ahead of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Qarabag and Chelsea in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo, File)

Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca, left, gives instructions to Estevao during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)