MILWAUKEE—Some times the shots are just too enticing for the Hawks to pass up.
Their opponents back off and beckon them to launch jump shots. The Hawks oblige, without regard to time, score or the quality of those shots.
The Hawks didn't exactly kick the habit on Monday at Milwaukee. They got away with it, though, thanks to All-Star guard Joe Johnson and forward Josh Smith.
Johnson scored nine points over the final three-plus minutes and Smith made a corner 3-pointer in the final minute to help lift Atlanta to a 97-92 victory. The Hawks (13-5) ended a two-game road losing streak and won for the fifth time in six games.
“We had some bad stretches in the fourth quarter, but we kept fighting,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “When they took the lead in the fourth quarter, it was a chance for us to see what we are made of. Our guys persevered and Josh came up with the three and Joe was absolutely phenomenal.”
Johnson scored 14 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter. The Hawks improved to 9-1 when he scores at least 20 point, which Johnson has done in five of the six games since All-Star center Al Horford suffered a torn pectoral muscle that will keep him out for at least three months.
“I just tried to alter my focus a little bit coming into tonight, understanding that these five road games are very important and without Al we all have to step up and do just a little more," Johnson said.
After Milwaukee's Drew Gooden made a 3-pointer with 1:02 to play, Johnson set up Smith's big shot by drawing a double team and passing to Jeff Teague on the weak side.
Teague turned down the open look and instead passed to Smith, who buried the shot with 41.9 seconds left in the game and four seconds on the shot clock. Smith said he didn't know the ball would come to him.
“I was ready for it, though," he said. "I just cherish moments when guys give me the opportunity and put the trust in me. I feel obligated not to let them down. ”
The Hawks still had to finish off the Bucks after Brandon Jennings scored on a layup to cut Atlanta's lead to 91-90. Johnson made six consecutive free throws to seal the victory for the Hawks.
Johnson made 8 of 13 shots and all eight of his free-throw attempts in the second half. Drew left him on the court for all 24 minutes of the second half.
“The one thing I wanted to do in the second half was get him into a rhythm,” Drew said. “I had my mind made up I was going to ride him in the second half.”
Smith added 19 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots for the Hawks. Teague scored 15 points and center Zaza Pachulia collected 14 rebounds.
The game didn't go exactly like Drew had hoped. The plan was to stay away from jump shots, which Drew believes has been a major factor in Atlanta giving back second-half leads on the road.
When the Hawks were at their best Monday, they avoided the temptation of jacking jump shots and used good passing to create good looks. They also created transition scoring chances off their defense or got to the free-throw line for easy points.
That's how the Hawks went on runs to build leads of nine and 11 points in the first half. But then the Hawks couldn't resist the temptation of long jump shots while giving back a 73-68 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Johnson dribbled out the shot clock and forced a jump shot over two defenders. Milwaukee collected the rebound and Jennings made a 3-pointer.
On Atlanta's next possession, forward Ivan Johnson launched a long jumper early in the shot clock. That led to a free throw from Ersan Ilyasova that cut Milwaukee's deficit to 73-72.
Hawks forward Tracy McGrady tried to answer with a turnaround jump shot. He missed and Milwaukee took a 74-73 lead on Mike Dunleavy's two free throws.
The Hawks finished strong to turn back Milwaukee, which had won at New York Friday and at Miami Sunday. Atlanta couldn't hold a second-half lead in a loss at Philadelphia on Friday.
"It shows we are getting better as a team," Smith said. "We fought through adversity tonight. They made runs. We had to climb back in it. We were able to find a way to beat a hot Milwaukee team."
As has been their tendency lately, the Hawks started the game strong.
Teague scored nine consecutive points during Atlanta's 11-0 run that opened up a 20-9 lead in the first quarter. Milwaukee climbed back in it with a boost from its bench players.
Reserves Dunleavy, Ilyasova and Gooden jump-started Milwaukee's offense late in the first quarter and early in the second. Dunleavy and Gooden each scored five points as Milwaukee trimmed Atlanta's 20-9 lead to 28-23 by the end of the first period.
The Hawks extended the lead to 33-23 on Vladimir Radmanoivic's 3-pointer and Willie Green's basket but Milwaukee’s starters returned and kept it close. Bucks center Andrew Bogut scored six consecutive points, all around the basket, to trim Atlanta's lead to 37-36 and the score was tied 48-48 at halftime.
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