The Wizards have a nice collection of talented young players who may one day coalesce into the kind of team the Hawks have now.
Until then, they will have to learn the hard way. Hawks All-Star guard Joe Johnson provided the latest tough lesson.
Johnson’s 27-foot 3-pointer completed the Hawks’ rally for a 95-92 victory at Washington on Saturday night.
The Hawks trailed by 16 points late in the third quarter and 10 to start the fourth, but came back behind stout defense, Washington’s mistakes and big shots from their many veteran players.
With the Hawks trailing 92-90, Johnson drove to the basket for a tying score but passed out to Kirk Hinrich when Washington’s defense collapsed. Hinrich passed back to Johnson on the left wing, and he made the basket with 46.8 seconds left.
“I veered out to the [3-point line] and when I got it back, I was looking at the goal and I was wide open,” Johnson said. “I just shot it.”
After Wizards rookie and former Dunwoody High Star Chris Singleton missed a shot, Johnson made two free throws. Washington guard John Wall missed a 3-point try under pressure at the buzzer to end it.
The Hawks (29-20) won their third consecutive game and fourth in five to move into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. They conclude their second stretch of the season with three games in three nights Sunday against the Jazz at Philips Arena.
The Wizards (11-36) had several rushed possessions while holding the lead in the fourth quarter. Washington blew a 22-point halftime lead while losing 85-83 to Indiana on Thursday, so the Hawks figured they could come back.
“Everything is easy when you are up [big]. Everybody is free-flowing and making plays,” Johnson said. “But down the stretch when it’s gut-check time, everyone tends to get a little tense and a little tight and the basket is not as big. We knew we had a chance.”
Hawks forward Josh Smith’s 20 points led a balanced effort for the Hawks. Johnson had 16 points and Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams 13 each as nine Hawks players scored at least one basket.
Hawks reserves, who had produced little as a group to that point, started the rally.
Vladimir Radmanovic made a 3-pointer to end the third quarter, then made another one as the Hawks scored the first nine points of the final period. Reserves Ivan Johnson and Willie Green also scored during the 13-4 run that cut Washington’s lead to 87-84.
The good production from the bench players allowed coach Larry Drew to hold down his starters’ minutes with the third game in three nights looming.
“Everybody contributed,” Smith said. “That’s what we needed with three in a row. You could tell we were a little fatigued, especially those of us who have played major minutes.”
The Hawks had beaten the Wizards five consecutive times dating to last season, and both victories this season were by double-digit margins. But both of those games were at Philips Arena, and the Wizards are a different team now.
Washington acquired Brazilian center Nene from Denver in a trade at the deadline. That transforms them from a guard-oriented, fast-break team into one with an efficient scorer around the basket.
“We are fully aware of what he’s capable of as a big man in the post,” Drew said before the game. “He’s a guy who has strength, he has quickness down there. We are going to have to do a good job defending the low post.”
“Whenever we’ve played this Washington team [before] our primary concern has been the transition game and making sure we don’t give up a lot of easy fast-break points. But with Nene he gives them a solid big man they can post-up. We can’t allow easy catches. It’s important we try to get him off his sweet spots.”
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