Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson (#2) takes a shot against Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu and Magic center Adonal Foyle (#31) during the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game, played on Saturday. Johnson scored 34 points as Atlanta defeated Orlando 98-90.?

The Atlanta Hawks are making a case for themselves to get a berth in this year’s playoffs; Saturday’s game against the Orlando Magic showed some shut-down defense, holding the Magic to only 41.2% from the floor, while Joe Johnson scored 34 in leading Atlanta to the win over Orlando at Philips Arena.

Neither team distinguished itself during the first half as both teams exchanged quarters; the Magic went into halftime with a slim 45-44 lead. Atlanta’s Mike Bibby exploited the Orlando frontcourt in the?fourth quarter; he dished off to Al Horford for a runner, which gave the?Hawks a?91-85 lead with 2:04 left to go.? Johnson would finish off the win for the Hawks with a pair of free throws.? Atlanta’s high scorer was the aforementioned Johnson with 34 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot while Bibby scored 20 with 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals; Josh Smith added 19 with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 2 blocked shots.

All 5 starters for Orlando scored in double-digits, led by Hedo Turkoglu with 18 points - including 3 treys - along with 2 rebounds, 3 assists,? a steal and a blocked shot while Jameer Nelson scored 16 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals; Dwight Howard, while scoring only 11 points, did grab 16 rebounds.? Atlanta (30-39) now fly to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Tuesday while Orlando (46-26) travels to San Antonio to face the Spurs - also on Thursday.?


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