Johnson’s jumper gives Hawks third win in a row

The Hawks last won three in a row from April 9-12, 2004. Atlanta also won its 14th contest of the season, one more than its entire win total of last season.

Johnson paced Atlanta with 23 points and controlled the offense with 11 assists and zero turnovers. Al Harrington posted a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Josh Smith also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards.

Steve Francis scored a game-high 30 points and Dwight Howard added 24 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for the slumping Magic, who dropped their fourth straight contest. Hedo Turkoglu added 15 points and DeShawn Stevenson contributed 10 in the loss.

"We had our chances," said Orlando head coach Brian Hill of the tight contest. "That’s what it comes down to in tight games. Who is going to make the shots, make the plays at the end of the game."

The back-and-forth contest came down to the final three minutes when each team made clutch shots, with none bigger than Johnson’s game-winning basket.

Francis and Howard worked a pick and roll to perfection and the big man scored in traffic with 3:02 remaining to tie the game at 86-86. Atlanta countered with Smith’s three-point play with 2:43 left.

Then, Johnson completed back-to-back three-point plays for the Hawks to increase the lead to 92-86 with 2:09 left.

Turkoglu made a difficult left-handed scoop shot as he was fouled and his free throw cut the lead in half, 92-89. Francis’ jumper made it a one-point game, 92-91, with 1:24 on the clock.

Harrington made 1-of-2 from the line to push the Hawks’ edge to two, but Tyronn Lue was whistled for a foul and Zaza Pachulia was hit with a technical foul for hitting Tony Battie over the head. Turkoglu drained the technical free throw but Battie missed both from the line.

Clinging to a 93-92 lead, Johnson missed a half hook, but Atlanta corralled the rebound and Lue was fouled. The guard made 1-of-2 with 17.7 seconds left.

Francis drew a foul with 11.9 ticks remaining and made both from the charity stripe to square the contest at 94-94.

Orlando clamped down at the defensive end, but Johnson shot a rainbow jumper over the outstretched arms of Stevenson that touched nothing but net with seven-tenths of a second remaining.

"Every time I shoot I feel like it’s going in," said Johnson of his game- winning jumper. "I got a good look at it. I pump faked it a couple times, but I didn’t know if he (Stevenson) was going to jump or not and I was trying to get a foul, but he didn’t so I just went up and shot it."

The Magic couldn’t get off a shot in the final second.

Orlando led 29-25 after one period and held a slim 50-49 edge at the half. The game was tied at 64-64 after three quarters before the Hawks scored the first six points of the fourth to grab the lead.

Game Notes

Orlando dropped to 6-15 on the road...The Magic played without guard Jameer Nelson (foot) and forwards Grant Hill (hernia) and Bo Outlaw (knee)...Atlanta improved to 10-14 at home...Lue tallied 11 points and Pachulia added 10 in the win.