Nov

10

Johnson Scores 25 Hawks Escape Thunder 89-85; Start Season 5-0

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

The Atlanta Hawks got 25 points from guard Joe Johnson, and defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday night 89-85. The hard fought victory by the Hawks, have them starting out the NBA campaign as the only unbeaten team in the Eastern Conference with a 5-0 record.

There are a certain group of teams, I have always referred to as “Toxic Franchises.” These teams find themselves most often in the NBA Draft Lottery, and usually ending up with the eleventh or twelfth selection. They may for a time period make the playoffs, but they are usually eliminated in the first round. They are never close to winning anything. You know the teams I am referring to; the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, (sorry to our buddies at 3 Shades of Blue but unfortunately true) Charlotte Bobcats.

Every once in a while a team gets to climb out of that primordial ooze, and become legitimate contenders. I covered the Cleveland Cavaliers in both phases. Before the arrival of the “Chosen One” you could hear the squeak of the players’ sneakers in the nose bleed seats. When providence shined down on the Cavaliers, and they drafted LeBron James they had instant credibility. The Hawks have gone around the task in another way, building around a free agent young star in Joe Johnson and then augmenting him with the NBA Draft, and trades.

Sunday night Atlanta took the lead at the end of the first quarter 22-14. Momentum would shift during the second, as Earl Watson hit a 25 foot trey, and with 3:38 left in the half it was all tied up at 35-35. Watson would score twice more before the end of the quarter, and the Thunder walked into the locker room at the half leading 41-38. Oklahoma City held the lead for most of the third quarter, but never by a bigger margin than 5 points. At the end of the third they held a 62-58 advantage, as Robert Swift hit a mid range jumper with time expiring. The Thunder were on top 75-68 with 6:45 left to play, when it was time for the “Flip Murray Show.” The journeyman veteran guard has found himself a good fit so far in the “ATL.” He has been a key contributor coming in from the bench throughout this young season, and took the contest over in the fourth Sunday night. In less than a 1:30 Murray would hit 2 from the charity stripe, drove the lane and put the ball up and in, hit a 24 foot trey, and completed the performance with a mid range jumper. The result was a tie game at 77-77 with 4:58 remaining. After more than a minute of futility by both teams, Marvin Williams hit a 23 foot trey putting the Hawks up 80-77.  Joe Smith would hit 3-4 at the line for OKC to deadlock the game at 80-80. Johnson would put Atlanata ahead to stay with back to back baskets making it 84-80 with just over a minute and a half left to play.

Johnson scored 25 points, 4 steals, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 block, in the Atlanta victory.  Marvin Williams had 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, Murray put in 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.  Mike Bibby had another nice game with 13 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal.

Kevin Durant would once again be the leading scorer for the Thunder, as he had 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. Rookie Russell Westbrook had another good game as he scored 15 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound, as he came off the pine. Veteran Joe Smith just missed a double-double, with 14 points, 9 boards, 1 block, 1 assist, Earl Watson would contribute 11 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal. The 5-0 Hawks will look to keep their streak alive in Chicago Tuesday night, the Thunder with a record of 1-5 will be in Indiana Monday night taking on the Pacers.

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