The Atlanta Hawks bounced back from a disappointing home defeat their last time out, clinching their fifth consecutive postseason berth in the process.

They haven’t lost to the Detroit Pistons on their own court in more than four years.

The playoff-bound Hawks open a season-ending five-game homestand Wednesday night seeking an eighth straight home win over the Pistons, who are coming off arguably their most dominating display of the season.

One night after losing 102-86 to lowly Toronto, Atlanta (36-25) cruised to a 109-87 road win Monday in the back end of a home-and-home set. Rookie Ivan Johnson posted a season-high 21 points while Joe Johnson scored 18 for the Hawks, who recorded 28 fast break points.

“We was better than what we played (Sunday) night, we just stepped it up more. It happens, it’s the NBA where amazing happens,” Ivan Johnson told the league’s official website.

After concluding its road schedule 17-16 – the first time it has finished over .500 on the road since the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, Atlanta closes the regular-season with five in a row at home. The Hawks host Boston, New York, the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas following this contest.

“Hopefully we can get all five of those,” said Jeff Teague, who had 19 points and 10 assists Monday for his third double-double. “That would be big.”

The Hawks are tied with Orlando for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference but own the tiebreaker over the Magic.

“We’re right there in the thick of things,” coach Larry Drew said. “As long as there’s an opportunity for us to move up, we want to try to take advantage of that.”

A home matchup with Detroit (23-38) could help Atlanta do just that. Since falling 94-90 on Feb. 12, 2008, the Hawks have limited the Pistons to an average of 88.9 points during their seven-game home winning streak in the series.

Atlanta has taken two of three from Detroit this season, with its only loss coming 86-85 on the road March 9. The Hawks won the most recent matchup 101-96 on April 6 behind Teague’s career best-tying 24 points and season-high 11 assists.

Atlanta is 7-0 when Teague dishes out at least nine assists.

The Pistons looked like anything but one of the weaker teams in the league during a 116-77 dismantling of Cleveland on Tuesday night. Detroit shot 60.0 percent from the floor – its highest mark in more than two years – and took a whopping 100-50 lead into the fourth quarter en route to only their second win in seven games.

“Sometimes, there are just crazy nights like that,” coach Lawrence Frank said. “Everything you shoot goes in. For them, everything they shoot doesn’t. We’ve all been there.”

Selected No. 8 overall in the draft, Brandon Knight scored a season-high 28 points on 11-of-12 shooting while Greg Monroe added 12 points and 13 boards for his 29th double-double.

“Even though the season is winding down, we wanted to set the tone for next year and the offseason and continue to build on that,” Knight said.

Detroit had dropped eight of 10 in opposing arenas before prevailing 109-85 at NBA-worst Charlotte on Thursday.

By Paul J. Weber, Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO — Matt Bonner and DeJuan Blair both scored 17 points, and the San Antonio Spurs handed the surging Atlanta Hawks their first lopsided loss of the season, 105-83 on Wednesday night.

Tiago Splitter added 16 points for the Spurs, who relished a convincing win over the Southeast Division leaders after losing two of their previous three and barely squeaking past woeful New Orleans on Monday night.

Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 22 points. Kirk Hinrich made his season debut, after missing 18 games recovering from shoulder surgery, and scored seven points in 14 minutes.

Joe Johnson had just 10 points for Atlanta. The 22-point blowout was a rare embarrassment for the Hawks (13-6), who had won six of seven.

Atlanta’s few losses this season included a triple-overtime heartbreaker to LeBron James and Miami, and a two-point defeat to Derrick Rose and Chicago.

The Hawks got manhandled this time, largely by an underperforming outfit of San Antonio role players.

Tony Parker had 15 points, and Tim Duncan scored just six and grabbed 11 rebounds. San Antonio’s reserves outscored the Hawks bench players 51-27.

Johnson, who had averaged 23 points in Atlanta’s previous seven games, shot just 5 of 12 from the floor. Josh Smith added 13 points on 6 of 17 shooting.

The Spurs shot 51 percent from the floor, marking the first time this season that Atlanta has allowed an opponent to make more than half its shots.

The Spurs have been practically auditioning scorers without Manu Ginobili, who could miss at least another month because of a broken left hand. Parker has been the lone constant on offense, yet even the 29-year-old star entered the game shooting his lowest percentage (46 percent) in a half-decade.

He stumbled early against the Hawks and finished 5 of 13. The reserves picked up the slack.

Bonner, the 3-point gunner stumbling through a career-worst shooting slump, eclipsed double digits for only the third time this season and tied a season high with five 3s. Splitter, who scored a career-high 25 points in a weekend loss to Houston, was in double figures for the fifth straight game.

Even little-used rookie point guard Cory Joseph scored a season-best eight points in 19 minutes. The Spurs started the second quarter with the combination of Joseph, Splitter, Bonner, Gary Neal and Danny Green, who made for a surprising scoring unit that doubled San Antonio’s lead to 41-28 in a span of six minutes.

Green finished with 10 points.

The Spurs improved to 10-1 at home, but are 2-6 on the road. They have only three more home games before they spend much of February away because of an annual Rodeo Road Trip.

Notes: The Hawks haven’t beaten the Spurs on the road since Duncan entered the NBA in 1997.

SAN ANTONIO
– Matt Bonner and DeJuan Blair both scored 17 points, and the San Antonio Spurs handed the surging Atlanta Hawks their first lopsided loss of the season, 105-83 on Wednesday night.

Tiago Splitter added 16 points for the Spurs, who relished a convincing win over the Southeast Division leaders after losing two of their previous three and barely squeaking past woeful New Orleans on Monday night.

Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 22 points. Kirk Hinrich made his season debut, after missing 18 games recovering from shoulder surgery, and scored seven points in 14 minutes.

Joe Johnson had just 10 points for Atlanta. The 22-point blowout was a rare embarrassment for the Hawks (13-6), who had won six of seven.

Atlanta’s few losses this season included a triple-overtime heartbreaker to LeBron James and Miami, and a two-point defeat to Derrick Rose and Chicago.

The Hawks got manhandled this time, largely by an underperforming outfit of San Antonio role players.

Tony Parker had 15 points, and Tim Duncan scored just six and grabbed 11 rebounds. San Antonio’s reserves outscored the Hawks bench players 51-27.

Johnson, who had averaged 23 points in Atlanta’s previous seven games, shot just 5 of 12 from the floor. Josh Smith added 13 points on 6 of 17 shooting.

The Spurs shot 51 percent from the floor, marking the first time this season that Atlanta has allowed an opponent to make more than half its shots.

The Spurs have been practically auditioning scorers without Manu Ginobili, who could miss at least another month because of a broken left hand. Parker has been the lone constant on offense, yet even the 29-year-old star entered the game shooting his lowest percentage (46 percent) in a half-decade.

He stumbled early against the Hawks and finished 5 of 13. The reserves picked up the slack.

Bonner, the 3-point gunner stumbling through a career-worst shooting slump, eclipsed double digits for only the third time this season and tied a season high with five 3s. Splitter, who scored a career-high 25 points in a weekend loss to Houston, was in double figures for the fifth straight game.

Even little-used rookie point guard Cory Joseph scored a season-best eight points in 19 minutes. The Spurs started the second quarter with the combination of Joseph, Splitter, Bonner, Gary Neal and Danny Green, who made for a surprising scoring unit that doubled San Antonio’s lead to 41-28 in a span of six minutes.

Green finished with 10 points.

The Spurs improved to 10-1 at home, but are 2-6 on the road. They have only three more home games before they spend much of February away because of an annual Rodeo Road Trip.

Notes: The Hawks haven’t beaten the Spurs on the road since Duncan entered the NBA in 1997.

SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Matt Bonner and DeJuan Blair both scored 17 points, and
the San Antonio Spurs handed the surging Atlanta Hawks their first lopsided loss
of the season, 105-83 on Wednesday night.

Tiago Splitter added 16 points for the Spurs, who relished a convincing win
over the Southeast Division leaders after losing two of their previous three and
barely squeaking past woeful New Orleans on Monday night.

Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 22 points. Kirk Hinrich made his season debut,
after missing 18 games recovering from shoulder surgery, and scored seven points
in 14 minutes.

Joe Johnson had just 10 points for Atlanta. The 22-point blowout was a rare
embarrassment for the Hawks (13-6), who had won six of seven.

Atlanta’s few losses this season included a triple-overtime heartbreaker to
LeBron James and Miami, and a two-point defeat to Derrick Rose and Chicago.

The Hawks got manhandled this time, largely by an underperforming outfit of
San Antonio role players.

Tony Parker had 15 points, and Tim Duncan scored just six and grabbed 11
rebounds. San Antonio’s reserves outscored the Hawks bench players 51-27.

Johnson, who had averaged 23 points in Atlanta’s previous seven games, shot
just 5 of 12 from the floor. Josh Smith added 13 points on 6 of 17 shooting.

The Spurs shot 51 percent from the floor, marking the first time this season
that Atlanta has allowed an opponent to make more than half its shots.

The Spurs have been practically auditioning scorers without Manu Ginobili,
who could miss at least another month because of a broken left hand. Parker has
been the lone constant on offense, yet even the 29-year-old star entered the
game shooting his lowest percentage (46 percent) in a half-decade.

He stumbled early against the Hawks and finished 5 of 13. The reserves
picked up the slack.

Bonner, the 3-point gunner stumbling through a career-worst shooting slump,
eclipsed double digits for only the third time this season and tied a season
high with five 3s. Splitter, who scored a career-high 25 points in a weekend
loss to Houston, was in double figures for the fifth straight game.

Even little-used rookie point guard Cory Joseph scored a season-best eight
points in 19 minutes. The Spurs started the second quarter with the combination
of Joseph, Splitter, Bonner, Gary Neal and Danny Green, who made for a
surprising scoring unit that doubled San Antonio’s lead to 41-28 in a span of
six minutes.

Green finished with 10 points.

The Spurs improved to 10-1 at home, but are 2-6 on the road. They have only
three more home games before they spend much of February away because of an
annual Rodeo Road Trip.

Notes: The Hawks haven’t beaten the Spurs on the road since Duncan entered
the NBA in 1997.

MILWAUKEE – Joe Johnson scored 15 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, rallying the Atlanta Hawks to a 97-92 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

Josh Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Jeff Teague added 15 points in the opener of Atlanta’s five-game road trip.

Brandon Jennings had 21 points and 11 assists to lead Milwaukee, and Mike Dunleavy added 17 points. However, the Bucks had no answer for Johnson in the fourth.

He tied the score at 84 with a 19-foot jumper. After the Bucks failed to connect on their next two possessions, Johnson put Atlanta ahead with a tiebreaking five-footer.

Drew Gooden hit a 3-pointer from deep in the corner for Milwaukee to tie the score at 88, but Smith hit a 3 and Johnson made two free throws to push the Hawks ahead for good at 93-90 with 16.6 seconds left.

Johnson, who came in averaging 18.6 points, was 10 of 22 from the floor and 8 for 8 from the line. He had five rebounds and two steals.

Zaza Pachulia grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds for Atlanta.

Andrew Bogut had six points and 12 rebounds and Gooden added 13 points for Milwaukee, which hoped to build on the momentum of big victories on the road.

The Bucks, who started 0-8 away from home, won 100-86 at New York on Friday and then 91-82 at Miami on Sunday despite shooting 35.0 percent.

With the Bucks on the attack, Marvin Williams deflected a pass from Dunleavy and the Hawks came up with loose ball. Milwaukee fouled Smith with 9.7 seconds left. He made two free throws and after Jennings raced in for a driving layup for Milwaukee’s final points, Johnson made two free throws for the final margin.

Trailing 70-64 after three quarters, the Bucks opened the fourth with a 10-3 surge.

Dunleavy started it with an eight-foot jumper and then capped it with two free throws that gave Milwaukee the lead at 74-73 with 8:21 left. It was the 18th lead change in the game.

The Bucks recovered from shooting 9 of 23 (39 percent) in the first quarter with an 11-of-22 effort (55 percent) in the second to tie the score at 48 as the half ended.

Teague scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Atlanta, which shot 54.5 percent in the first quarter.

NOTES: Hawks G Kirk Hinrich has missed 17 games (left shoulder surgery), but made the trip. He has been practicing hard, according to coach Larry Drew, and may return to action during the road trip. … Oak Hill Academy (VA) was well represented at the game. Atlanta’s Josh Smith and Jerry Stackhouse and Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings and Stephen Jackson all graduated from there. … Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and his wife, Ellen, were in attendance.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Joe Johnson scored 14 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, rallying the Atlanta Hawks to a 97-92 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

Josh Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Jeff Teague added 15 points in the opener of Atlanta’s five-game road trip.

Brandon Jennings had 21 points and 11 assists to lead Milwaukee, and Mike Dunleavy added 17 points. However, the Bucks had no answer for Johnson in the fourth.

He tied the score at 84 with a 19-foot jumper. After the Bucks failed to connect on their next two possessions, Johnson put Atlanta ahead with a tiebreaking five-footer.

Drew Gooden hit a 3-pointer from deep in the corner for Milwaukee to tie the score at 88, but Smith hit a 3 and Johnson made two free throws to push the Hawks ahead for good at 93-90 with 16.6 seconds left.

Johnson, who came in averaging 18.6 points, was 10 of 22 from the floor and 8 for 8 from the line. He had five rebounds and two steals.

Zaza Pachulia grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds for Atlanta.

Andrew Bogut had six points and 12 rebounds and Gooden added 13 points for Milwaukee, which hoped to build on the momentum of big victories on the road.

The Bucks, who started 0-8 away from home, won 100-86 at New York on Friday and then 91-82 at Miami on Sunday despite shooting 35.0 percent.

With the Bucks on the attack, Marvin Williams deflected a pass from Dunleavy and the Hawks came up with loose ball. Milwaukee fouled Smith with 9.7 seconds left. He made two free throws and after Jennings raced in for a driving layup for Milwaukee’s final points, Johnson made two free throws for the final margin.

Trailing 70-64 after three quarters, the Bucks opened the fourth with a 10-3 surge.

Dunleavy started it with an eight-foot jumper and then capped it with two free throws that gave Milwaukee the lead at 74-73 with 8:21 left. It was the 18th lead change in the game.

The Bucks recovered from shooting 9 of 23 (39 percent) in the first quarter with an 11-of-22 effort (55 percent) in the second to tie the score at 48 as the half ended.

Teague scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Atlanta, which shot 54.5 percent in the first quarter.

NOTES: Hawks G Kirk Hinrich has missed 17 games (left shoulder surgery), but made the trip. He has been practicing hard, according to coach Larry Drew, and may return to action during the road trip. … Oak Hill Academy (VA) was well represented at the game. Atlanta’s Josh Smith and Jerry Stackhouse and Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings and Stephen Jackson all graduated from there. … Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and his wife, Ellen, were in attendance.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

MILWAUKEE (AP)—Joe Johnson scored 15 of his season-high 28 points in the
fourth quarter, rallying the Atlanta Hawks to a 97-92 victory over the Milwaukee
Bucks on Monday night.

Josh Smith had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Jeff Teague added 15 points in
the opener of Atlanta’s five-game road trip.

Brandon Jennings had 21 points and 11 assists to lead Milwaukee, and Mike
Dunleavy added 17 points. However, the Bucks had no answer for Johnson in the
fourth.

He tied the score at 84 with a 19-foot jumper. After the Bucks failed to
connect on their next two possessions, Johnson put Atlanta ahead with a
tiebreaking five-footer.

Drew Gooden hit a 3-pointer from deep in the corner for Milwaukee to tie the
score at 88, but Smith hit a 3 and Johnson made two free throws to push the
Hawks ahead for good at 93-90 with 16.6 seconds left.

Johnson, who came in averaging 18.6 points, was 10 of 22 from the floor and
8 for 8 from the line. He had five rebounds and two steals.

Zaza Pachulia grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds for Atlanta.

Andrew Bogut had six points and 12 rebounds and Gooden added 13 points for
Milwaukee, which hoped to build on the momentum of big victories on the road.

The Bucks, who started 0-8 away from home, won 100-86 at New York on Friday
and then 91-82 at Miami on Sunday despite shooting 35.0 percent.

With the Bucks on the attack, Marvin Williams deflected a pass from Dunleavy
and the Hawks came up with loose ball. Milwaukee fouled Smith with 9.7 seconds
left. He made two free throws and after Jennings raced in for a driving layup
for Milwaukee’s final points, Johnson made two free throws for the final margin.

Trailing 70-64 after three quarters, the Bucks opened the fourth with a 10-3
surge.

Dunleavy started it with an eight-foot jumper and then capped it with two
free throws that gave Milwaukee the lead at 74-73 with 8:21 left. It was the
18th lead change in the game.

The Bucks recovered from shooting 9 of 23 (39 percent) in the first quarter
with an 11-of-22 effort (55 percent) in the second to tie the score at 48 as the
half ended.

Teague scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Atlanta, which shot 54.5
percent in the first quarter.

NOTES: Hawks G Kirk Hinrich has missed 17 games (left shoulder surgery), but
made the trip. He has been practicing hard, according to coach Larry Drew, and
may return to action during the road trip. … Oak Hill Academy (VA) was well
represented at the game. Atlanta’s Josh Smith and Jerry Stackhouse and
Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings and Stephen Jackson all graduated from there. …
Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and his wife, Ellen, were in
attendance.

The Atlanta Hawks have been struggling on the road. A favorable schedule on
their upcoming trip could help them improve their record away from Philips
Arena, but their first opponent is suddenly surging.

The Hawks open a five-game road trip Monday night when they visit a
Milwaukee Bucks team coming off an impressive upset.

Atlanta (12-5) is off to a solid start, sitting percentage points behind
Orlando for Southeast Division lead despite a 4-4 road record. Three of those
victories have come against teams with losing records.

The Hawks will try to add some wins to that total during a five-game,
nine-day road trip in which four of the games will be against opponents
currently under .500.

The first of those opponents is Milwaukee (6-9), which played much better
than its record in road upsets of New York and Miami over the weekend.

The Bucks, who were previously 0-8 away from home, defeated the Heat 91-82
on Sunday despite shooting 35.0 percent.

“Huge,” guard Shaun Livingston said. “Especially for us being winless on
the road and going 2-0 against two good teams, especially the quality team like
the Heat, it’s huge for your confidence.”

The Bucks forced 47 turnovers on the trip while limiting Miami and the
Knicks to 37.1 percent shooting from the field.

“Our defense was very, very good again,” coach Scott Skiles said after
Sunday’s win. “When we needed a couple big plays, we were able to make them.”

Atlanta has been making opposing defenses look good on the road. The Hawks
have averaged 80.0 points while losing their last two games away from Philips
Arena, including a 90-76 defeat to Philadelphia on Friday in which coach Larry
Drew said the team “quit” in the second half.

Drew had little to complain about at home in a 121-94 victory over Cleveland
on Saturday. The Hawks shot 55.4 percent and went 11 of 24 from 3-point range as
Joe Johnson scored 25 points to lead six players in double figures.

“I thought from start to finish we were in an attack mode,” Drew said. “You
could see the aggression. You could see the energy.”

Johnson, though, is averaging 14.5 points per game on the road – nearly
eight fewer than he’s averaging at home.

Milwaukee’s Stephen Jackson, benched for Friday’s game after missing that
day’s shootaround, came off the bench against the Heat and finished with 10
points in 26 minutes.

“The biggest thing is I hate not being out there and (Sunday) I was able to
help my team,” Jackson said.

Livingston replaced Jackson in the starting lineup on the trip and made a
case he may belong there. Livingston had 10 points and five assists in Sunday’s
win after recording 18 points and shooting 7 of 10 against the Knicks.

Atlanta and Milwaukee split their four meetings last season, with each team
winning once on the road.