Johnson Beats The Buzzer Hawks Beat The T-Wolves 90-89

Joe Johnson hit an 18 foot jump shot that just beat the buzzer, as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night? 90-89. The Hawks had a 53-40 lead at the half, but they were outscored 27-8 in the third quarter to allow Minnesota back in the game, as they took a 67-61 lead at the end of three quarters! That is correct Atlanta scored just EIGHT POINTS in the third quarter! In a 12 minute quarter, with a 24 second shot clock, a team would get 67 possessions if my math is correct. That means the Hawks went 4-67, if they even got the shot off!

Minnesota has an excuse for being a second tier team this year, their owner Glen Taylor decided to rebuild. Atlanta has been “rebuilding” it seems since Dominique Wilkins stopped playing for the franchise. The Atlanta Hawks, are kind of like the Pittsburgh Pirates of the NBA. Every year at the beginning of the season, you look at their rosters and you see talent, and both teams usually get off to promising starts. But by mid-season they are in or near the basement of their respective divisions. Atlanta is going through the same exercise again this season.

Josh Smith led the Hawks with 28 points, 7 rebounds, 7 blocked shots, 2 assists, 2 steals, Johnson had 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals to go along with his?21 points. Marvin Williams scored 20 for the Hawks while, the rookie Al Horford scored 8 points and a team high 15 rebounds.

Minnesota had four players in double figures, but only one was a starter. That was center Al Jefferson who had 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot. Craig Smith coming off the bench for the Timberwolves led the team with 20 points, 9 rebounds. Smith has done a nice job all season of giving T-Wolves coach Randy Wittman some offense off of the pine. Marko Jaric scored 18 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and Rodney McCants scored 11. Horford’s college teammate and now Minnesota rookie Corey Brewer scored just 6 points, but had a game high 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 1 blocked shot. Atlanta improves to 8-10 after the win, while Minnesota falls to 2-15.