Things didn't start well for Joe Johnson and the Hawks but Atlanta's All-Star shooting guard got things together in the second half to help lead the Hawks to a 97-92 win over Milwaukee to open a five-game road trip. Johnson scored 24 of his 28 points in the second half and made six straight free throws at crunch time to help seal the win.
"I just tried to alter my focus a little bit coming into tonight," Joe said, "understanding that these five road games are very important and without Al [Horford] we all have to step up and do just a little more."
After going 2-9 in the first half for four points, Johnson went inside in the second and used his 6-foot-8 frame as an advantage against Bucks. He hit 8-13 shots in the second half and went 8-8 at the free throw line. However, the biggest play of the game might have been when Johnson passed out of a double team with the score tied at 88-88 which eventually led to a Josh Smith three out of the corner that put Atlanta in front for good. Given his hot streak in the second half, Johnson could have felt the need to take that shot but he made the correct pass and it led to a good result for the Hawks.