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Joe Johnson sends Hawks past Wizards

Mar 25, 2012 - 2:59 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Joe Johnson's 16 points included the go- ahead three-pointer with 1:04 remaining, as Atlanta came back from a 16-point second-half deficit to edge the Wizards, 95-92, on Saturday.

Josh Smith netted 20 points and came one rebound shy of his fourth consecutive double-double, and Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams scored 13 points apiece for the Hawks, who have won five of their last six.

"We knew we had a chance," said Johnson. "Shout out to our bench for keeping us in the game, getting us back into the game, before me and Josh and the rest of the gang came in and [finished] it off."

Atlanta swept the season series 3-0 over Washington and has won 15 of the last 16 meetings overall.

Nene poured in a game-high 21 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and Jordan Crawford donated 20 points for the Wizards, who dropped the first game of a back-to-back-to-back stretch and the seventh of their last nine.

After going down 73-57 late in the third quarter, the Hawks slowly chipped away, eventually finishing the game on a 38-19 run to eke out the victory.

Johnson scored nine points during the stretch, including the trey that put the visitors up 93-92 and the last five points overall. Vladimir Radmanovic hit two threes during the spurt and Smith, Kirk Hinrich and Ivan Johnson supplied five points apiece.

Johnson's three-pointer gave Atlanta its first lead since there were 24 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Washington was held to an abysmal 28.6 percent (6-of-21) shooting from the floor during the comeback, while the Hawks converted at a 54.2 percent (13- of-24) clip.

"I think, once they started coming back, everybody was like, 'Here we go again.' I think it might've caused some frustration," said Wizards forward Trevor Booker.

Nonetheless, the Wizards had built a lead large enough that they held possession with a chance to tie in the final seconds, but John Wall's wide- open three-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired.

The game was tied 23-23 after one as Nene and Crawford scored all but two of the hosts' points, and they exploded for 29 points in the second to take a 52-41 advantage into intermission.

Game Notes

Hinrich finished with 10 points...Booker had 14 rebounds...Pachulia returned after missing Friday's game with an Achilles injury. Forward Tracy McGrady was not with Atlanta as he rested...The final margin matched Atlanta's largest lead of the game.