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Jackson's return powers Warriors past Hawks

Jan 17, 2009 - 7:34 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Stephen Jackson's return to the lineup had an immediate impact on the Golden State Warriors.

Jackson and Corey Maggette scored 24 points apiece while Jamal Crawford added 29 as the Warriors claimed a 119-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

The 30-year-old captain, Jackson was expected to miss two weeks after straining his right hamstring during a loss to the Utah Jazz on January 5.

But after missing only four games, Jackson returned and made 7-of-20 shots from the floor and added seven rebounds and six assists, helping Golden State bounce back from a heart-breaking 135-133 triple-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

"The guys fought hard against Sacramento and didn't pull it off, so I think bouncing back like this is definitely something we needed," Jackson said. "We concentrated on defense. Joe Johnson had a good first half and their guys were getting all over the court, anywhere they wanted to without us playing defense. We won the game with defense and were able to make some shots down the stretch."

"(The win) was very big," Crawford said. "I told the guys that coming into tonight we lost six of seven but they were by an average of seven points. So we're right there, we're getting better. After losing games like (against) Sacramento, the next game can't come fast enough. And tonight everybody came in, contributed and we just took over down the stretch."

Johnson scored 21 points in the first half but had only four points in the second for the Hawks, who used a late run in the fourth quarter to erase the Warriors' lead.

"We had a gameplan and we changed it throughout the game," Golden State coach Don Nelson said.

"I think the main thing is (Jackson) was able to guard (Johnson) most of the time and for whatever reason when he wasn't able to guard him, whoever was on him did a pretty good job. (Johnson finished) 9-of-20 (from the floor) and he had a really good first half. I'm sure the second half was in our favor."

Mike Bibby drained consecutive 3-pointers to cut Atlanta's deficit to 102-101 with 4:38 left.

Flip Murray gave the Hawks a 104-102 advantage with a three of his own and followed that with a layup off a steal to cap an 18-2 surge.

The Warriors tied the game on Maggette's layup and a pull-up jumper by Crawford gave Golden State a 108-106 lead with 2:10 left.

Crawford made another fadeaway with 1:24 remaining to push the advantage to four points.

After a pair of free throws by Maggette stretched the lead to six with 40 seconds remaining, the Warriors were able to make enough free throws down the stretch to hold on for the victory.

"Jamal and Steve just got hot and started knocking down shots," Bibby said. "It was a game that we really needed, but we let it slip away. We just have to bounce back against a good Toronto team (Monday)."

Maurice Evans scored 21 points and Bibby finished with 20 and seven assists for the Hawks, who have lost four of their last five and were forced to play without Marvin Williams after the forward was injured in the second quarter.

"We're not playing great," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "We're fighting and scraping. We're in games. Tonight it was just a shootout. If we're going to put up (29) threes, we have to be able to make them."

Williams was fouled on a follow shot by Ronny Turiaf, who was attempting a block.

Instead, Turiaf's right arm wrapped around Williams' face and his head, knocking him to the floor. He was later taken to the hospital for an evaluation of a possible concussion.

"Marvin's a big part of what we're doing and he's still being evaluated for a head injury so we just wish him well and a speedy recovery," Woodson said. "We don't even know if he's going to make the trip back, so we'll just have to see."