Kobe Johnson Scores 30 Points in Hawks' Win Over Celtics in Vegas

The Atlanta Hawks didn’t waste much time making their statement Monday night, jumping on the Boston Celtics early and never giving them a real chance to settle in.

Behind a huge performance from Kobe Johnson, the Hawks cruised to a 102-90 victory at the 2026 NBA Summer League.

Johnson was the engine for Atlanta all night, pouring in 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting while adding seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in just 24 minutes. The performance was a reminder that summer league can be a strange mix of auditions and building chemistry, but when a player gets rolling like Johnson did, the game can start looking pretty simple.

Johnson, the brother of Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, controlled the pace and consistently found ways to get downhill and create opportunities. It was the kind of confident showing young players hope to put together at this time.

Atlanta had a 29-25 lead after the opening quarter, but the real damage came in the second. The Hawks ripped off a 16-0 run midway through the period, turning a competitive game into one that quickly started slipping away from Boston. Atlanta outscored the Celtics 23-14 in the second quarter and followed that with a 31-23 advantage in the third, putting the game out of reach before the final minutes.

More news: Celtics' Dillon Mitchell Shows His Stuff in Win Over Hornets

Henri Veesaar was another standout for the Hawks, finishing with 20 points and four rebounds. Devon Higgs added 12 points, while Isaiah Wong chipped in nine points and nine rebounds.

Boston struggled to find enough offense, with only three players reaching double figures. First-round pick Chris Cenac Jr. led the Celtics with 16 points and five rebounds, showing flashes despite the team’s overall struggles. Dillon Mitchell and Tucker DeVries each finished with 11 points, with Mitchell also contributing four rebounds and two assists.

More news: Yaxel Lendeborg Gets Props as a ‘High-Impact Player' in Summer League

The Celtics will look to bounce back Wednesday against the Kings, while the Hawks return Thursday to face the Grizzlies. Both games will take place at Thomas & Mack Center.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 11:03 AM.