NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum had 25 points and seven assists and the surging Atlanta Hawks routed the Brooklyn Nets 141-107 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory and 18th in 20 games.
Fifth in the Eastern Conference at 45-33, the Hawks remained 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Philadelphia and seventh-place Toronto and moved within 3 1/2 games of fourth-place Cleveland. Atlanta and Cleveland will play a home-and-set next week.
McCollum was 8 of 12 from the field, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, and Jalen Johnson had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu scored 15 points.
Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 16 points, and Malachi Smith had 15. The Nets lost their second straight to fall to 18-59.
Atlanta scored the first 10 points and led 35-17 with 1:28 left in the first quarter. It was 71-55 at the half, with McCollum scoring 16 points and Johnson 13. McCollum was 4 of 5 from the field in the half, hitting three 3-pointers without a miss.
Hawks: Host New York on Monday night.
Nets: Host Washington on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3), defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Saraf (77), shoots a two-pointer during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) and Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Saraf (77) race for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) fights through the Brooklyn Nets' defense during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) scores during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) celebrates scoring a three-pointer during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
