The Evening TiltFree Throws and First Signals

Two Atlanta teams played Wednesday. One got the result it needed. The other got a reminder that April basketball is decided at the stripe.

Hawks 116, Cavaliers 122

Twenty free-throw attempts. That was the gap — 35 to 15 in Cleveland's favor, in a game decided by six points. The Hawks can run whatever they want through Jalen Johnson, but when the whistle tilts that hard, scheme becomes secondary.

Johnson finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. For most players, that is a solid night. For a guy averaging 22.8, 10.3, and 8.0, it is a disappearance at the worst possible time. Nickeil Alexander-Walker poured in 25 and Onyeka Okongwu added 18, but two players cannot outscore a 20-attempt free-throw deficit.

Donovan Mitchell had 31. Evan Mobley had 22 and 19 rebounds. Cleveland did what Cleveland does at home — bludgeon you on the glass and get to the line.

The scoreboard consequence: Atlanta falls to 45-35 and does not clinch tonight. Toronto sits one game back with the tiebreaker. The 5th seed, which felt secure two weeks ago, is now a live question. Friday's rematch at State Farm Arena is no longer a nice-to-have. Simone has the full post-game read.

Braves 8, Angels 2

Grant Holmes pitched 6.2 innings, struck out six, and allowed two earned runs. The line is clean. The reality was messier — he loaded the bases in the second inning and survived. But surviving is a skill, and Holmes has it.

The louder signal came from the cleanup spot. Matt Olson hit a two-run home run — 399 feet, his first real statement of the young season. Olson's bat has been the quiet concern behind the Braves' early-season arithmetic, and one swing does not erase April 1 through April 7. But it starts the conversation.

Ronald Acuna doubled twice in his best game in weeks after a .194 start with zero home runs. Two players the Braves need to be stars acted like it on the same night. That matters more than the final score.

The road trip closes 3-1. The three-game losing streak is done. Atlanta is 8-5. Ellis has the breakdown on Holmes and what the rotation depth looks like behind him.

The Rest

The Falcons opened OTAs this week and Kyle Pitts signed his franchise tag. Both covered this morning — nothing new tonight.

Atlanta United is off until the Open Cup at Chattanooga on April 15.

One more thing. The Hawks shot 35 fewer free throws and lost by 6. The Braves loaded the bases with nobody out and gave up nothing. Wednesday was about surviving your own situation — one team figured it out, one did not.