Joe Johnson leads Atlanta Hawks to 110-85 win over the Milwaukee Bucks
A little more than 48 hours after they defeated the struggling Portland Trail Blazers by nine points, the Atlanta Hawks overcame the Milwaukee Bucks 110-85 on Tuesday night. Joe Johnson led the way from the start and ended with a game-high 36 points. The 29-year-old guard also grabbed two assists and five rebounds in the victory.
It was the first time in his career that Johnson was wearing a headband to cover an injury. However, it turned to be his lucky charm, as the way it worked for him proved to be a source of excitement for his team-mates.
He said, "It worked. I was supposed to change headbands at half time, but everybody jumped up saying, 'No. No. No.' I do not know. I am not a headband-kind of guy, but for right now I have to wear it.
Johnson added, “I had my legs under me . . . I had two days off. I was making quick moves in the post. You get a couple easy baskets, and the basket starts to open up a little bit."
Forward Josh Smith played an effective game for Atlanta as he added 17 points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Marvin Williams came off the bench with 16 points, while Al Horford scored 15 points for the Hawks, who won their second consecutive game.
Andrew Bogut finished with a team-high 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Bucks, who lost their second straight game. Carlos Delfino chipped in with 13 points while Corey Maggette added 11 points in the defeat.
Match Analysis
The Hawks entered the Philips Arena on the back of two consecutive victories and went on a 4-2 run to put early pressure on Milwaukee. The Bucks then got some solid shots from Bogut and Delfino to make it a single-point contest at 11-10. However, Atlanta scored the last eight points of the quarter to take a 28-17 lead into the second.
The Hawks extended their offensive play to the second quarter, making seven of the eight available shots. Atlanta stretched their lead to 55-39 at half time courtesy four sizzling three-pointers by Johnson.
The Hawks put up an even better display in the third quarter and outscored the Bucks 29-16, taking an 84-55 edge into the final stanza. Milwaukee came out strongly in the fourth quarter but the Hawks lead proved too much to overcome.
Atlanta Head Coach Larry Drew praised his team’s performance after the win. He said, "We haven't had a win like this all year. Hopefully a game like this will give us some juice."
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