USA - No ordinary Joe - Johnson flies high as Hawks beat Magic

NEW YORK (NBA) - Team USA star Joe Johnson scored 34 points and Josh Smith added 19 and 11 rebounds as the Atlanta Hawks used stellar defense en route to a 93-83 victory over the struggling Orlando Magic for the second time in four days.

Atlanta defeated the Magic, 93-90, on Friday before riding Johnson to yet another win over their division foes just three days later.

A dynamic scorer, Johnson netted a season-high 39 points in Friday's contest and led the way once again with his soft jumper and innate scoring ability on Monday.

Using a fadeaway jumper off the dribble that was practically unguardable, Johnson shot 12 of 24 from the field, including four of 12 from the arc.

Johnson's excellent play has kept the Magic reeling.

One of the top teams in the East over the first two months of the season, Orlando have dropped eight of their last nine games to fall to seventh place in the conference standings.

A native of the Atlanta area, Magic star forward Dwight Howard, another Team USA player, has struggled against his hometown team this season, averaging just 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games against the Hawks entering Monday's contest.

In Memphis, Spanish superstar Pau Gasol scored a season-high 34 points as the Grizzlies rallied for a 124-117 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The league's worst team with a 12-34 record, Memphis shot a scorching 59% (41-70) from the floor to snap a two-game losing streak and win for just the fifth time when trailing entering the fourth quarter.

Gasol showed the way, finishing 14 of 17 from the field and adding eight rebounds and eight blocked shots for the Grizzlies, who erased a 10-point deficit after three quarters.

The blocks tied a career and franchise high. Mike Miller added 27 points, including a huge three-pointer that put Memphis in front, 119-115, with 24 seconds to play, part of an 18-5 run that sealed the victory.

"You're not going to block eight shots every night," Gasol said. "I'm long and I try the best I can. I was able to help out more tonight. Their guys don't give it up much, which gave me an opportunity, and I went after it."

In Minneapolis, superstar Kevin Garnett proved that the Phoenix Suns can be beaten.

Garnett scored 15 of his season-high 44 points in the fourth quarter and reserve Mark Madsen provided defense and an emotional lift as the Minnesota Timberwolves posted a 121-112 victory over the Phoenix Suns, snapping their franchise-record 17-game winning streak.

Ricky Davis collected 17 points and eight assists for the Timberwolves, who handed the Suns their first loss since December 28 at Dallas and just their second overall since November 18.

In Oklahoma City, Jannero Pargo came through with a big fourth quarter and the New Orleans Hornets recorded their sixth straight home win with a 103-91 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Hornets led, 76-71, after three but Juan Dixon started the fourth quarter with a three-point play to pull Portland within 76-74.

The Hornets responded with a 10-2 run to open up an 86-76 lead with 6:58 to play.

Bobby Jackson capped the spurt with a three-pointer and then Pargo took over the offense for the Hornets, scoring 12 consecutive points for the Hornets, keeping a comfortable margin with a mix of jumpers and drives.

In Houston, Tracy McGrady and Juwan Howard sparked the hot-shooting Rockets to their third straight win, an easy 105-84 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

McGrady finished with 25 points and did not play at all in the fourth quarter.

He was at his most effective in the third quarter, scoring 15 points as the Rockets opened up an 89-51 lead.

Howard scored 10 of his 20 points in the first quarter and he added 10 rebounds and six assists in three quarters of work.

In Denver, Gerald Wallace made a huge defensive play down the stretch and collected 25 points and 13 rebounds as the Charlotte Bobcats posted a 105-101 victory over the struggling Denver Nuggets.

Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who shot 49% (40 of 81) from the field and seven of 18 from the arc but dug in defensively to secure the victory in the exciting final minutes.

While having a poor season, Charlotte (16-28) have saved their best basketball for the league's top teams, including a season sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Bobcats also have defeated play-off contenders Utah, Detroit, San Antonio, Cleveland and New Jersey.

In Salt Lake City, Vince Carter hit a long three-pointer at the buzzer to finish with 33 points and Jason Kidd added 22 as the New Jersey Nets rallied for a 116-115 victory over the Utah Jazz.

FIBA