Blue Devil Country

Former Duke Basketball Player Delivers Eye-Popping NBA Cup Performance

A pair of Duke basketball products and the Atlanta Hawks reached the final four of the league's in-season tournament.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball forward Jalen Johnson
Former Duke basketball forward Jalen Johnson / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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On Wednesday night, the Atlanta Hawks (14-12), coached by former Duke basketball guard and assistant Quin Snyder, advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup, the league's in-season tournament, via their 108-100 road win over the New York Knicks (15-10) in Madison Square Garden.

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And the Hawks enjoyed a notably productive effort by their fourth-year pro out of Duke in forward Jalen Johnson.

He finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks in the contest. According to StatMuse, the 22-year-old Wisconsin native joined Denver Nuggets star big man Nikola Jokic as the only two players in the NBA to tally all of those totals in a single game this season.

Johnson, who came off the board No. 20 overall to the Hawks at the 2021 NBA Draft following his truncated one-and-done campaign with the Blue Devils, shot 8-for-20 from the field, 1-for-5 from deep, and 4-for-6 at the foul line across his game-high 41 minutes of action against the Knicks.

Through his 24 outings as a full-time starter under Quin Snyder this season, Jalen Johnson is averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks. All of those numbers mark career highs.

Atlanta, No. 7 in the Eastern Conference standings, is now gearing up for its NBA Cup semifinal bout against the Milwaukee Bucks (13-11) in Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

ALSO READ: John Calipari Pops By for Five-Star Duke Target Nate Ament

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more NBA Blue Devil updates and other Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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