Monday, April 12, 2010

Johnson Scores 31 to Help Hawks Beat Bucks 104-96

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Joe Johnson scored 31 points to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-96 in a matchup between potential first-round playoff opponents Monday night.

Marvin Williams added 18 points for the Hawks, who had six players score in double figures and continued to solidify their spot as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

John Salmons scored 28 and Brandon Jennings added 21 in the regular-season home finale for the Bucks. Jennings was 2 for 11 from 3-point range.

It was the second straight matchup with a potential first-round opponent for the Bucks, who lost to Boston on Saturday. Milwaukee dropped into sixth place in the East, a game behind fifth-place Miami, which beat Philadelphia 107-105.

The Bucks and Heat each have one game remaining -- and Milwaukee holds the tiebreaker.

Hawks forward Josh Smith pulled a groin muscle in the first quarter but returned midway through the second and finished with 11 points.

Trailing 78-70 going into the fourth quarter, Milwaukee made a late surge.

A steal set up a fast-break layup by Salmons, cutting Atlanta's lead to 96-91 with 2:30 left. Williams made a layup for Atlanta, putting the Hawks up with seven with 1:52 to play.

Milwaukee's Luke Ridnour -- whose solid play helped the Bucks get back in the game -- missed a jumper, but Milwaukee got the ball back on a loose ball foul.

Salmons went to the line and hit the first but missed the second. Jennings grabbed the loose ball on the rebound, but Salmons missed from 3-point range, leaving the Hawks ahead by six.

With the loss, the Bucks are 3-2 since center Andrew Bogut broke his hand, dislocated his elbow and sprained his wrist in a hard fall to the court that wrenched his right arm in an April 3 game against Phoenix. He will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his hand.

With his hand in a cast and brace underneath his sport coat, Bogut addressed the crowd before the game, thanking fans for their support and saying he intended to come back stronger next season.

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