ATLANTA -- Joe Johnson scored 21 of his 28 points in the third quarter and Mike Bibby handed out 14 assists to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 117-93 on Friday night.
Josh Smith added 25 points for the Hawks, who stopped a two-game losing streak and won for just the second time in eight games.
Tim Thomas and rookie Al Thornton each scored 18 points for Los Angeles, which has dropped two straight and 10 of 12.
The Clippers never came within single digits of the lead after Zaza Pachulia's putback for Atlanta made it 30-19 late in the first quarter.
Leading the Hawks in scoring for the seventh straight game, Johnson surpassed 20 points for the 39th time this season. He was 7-for-9 from the field in the third quarter, including 6-for-6 on 3-point attempts.
The margin of victory was a season high for Atlanta.
Atlanta had 46 rebounds, 11 more than the Clippers, who were without center Chris Kaman, the NBA's third-leading rebounder and shot blocker. Kaman missed his third straight game with a lower back injury.
With a 15-point lead at the end of the third quarter, Hawks coach Mike Woodson rested Bibby in the fourth. The ninth-year point guard finished with 14 points and helped the Hawks outscore the Clippers 41-20 in fast-break points.
Corey Maggette had 14 points for Los Angeles, but he was just 4-for-11 from the field.
Smush Parker, who signed as a free agent Wednesday after the Miami Heat waived him, drew a technical foul less than one minute after making his Clippers debut late in the third.
Notes: The Clippers fell to 1-21 on the road when starting the fourth quarter with a deficit. ... Atlanta improved to 16-3 at home when beginning the fourth with a lead. ... Since trading for Bibby last month, the Hawks are 5-10.
Friday
May 2nd, 2025
4:40PM
