ATLANTA, March 14 (UPI) -- Joe Johnson made seven of eight shots from the field Friday, scored 28 points and led Atlanta to a 117-93 whipping of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Josh Smith contributed 25 points to help the Hawks end a two-game losing streak and jump into a tie with New Jersey for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
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Los Angeles, losers of two in a row and 10 out of 12, was led by Al Thornton and Tim Thomas with 18 each.
Atlanta put together a 16-4 run in the first period and owned a 16-point lead after one quarter. The Clippers did not threaten the rest of the way and Atlanta reached the 100-point mark with 11 minutes remaining.
