GAME THREAD: NBA: CHARLOTTE (8-13) at ATLANTA (10-12)

NBA: CHARLOTTE (8-13) at ATLANTA (10-12)

<h3>Johnson, Hawks welcome in Bobcats</h3>

<div class="pre">Charlotte (8-13) at Atlanta (10-12) 7:00 pm EST</div>

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Hawks look to bounce back whenthey welcome in the struggling Charlotte Bobcats in the first ofa three-game homestand on Saturday.


The Hawks dropped their second straight game, 91-81, on Fridayto the Detroit Pistons on the road, wasting Joe Johnson's 14th20-point effort of the season.


Atlanta should get a boost to its rotation with the return ofrookie forward Al Horford, who served his one-game suspensionfor an flagrant foul on Toronto's T.J. Ford in Tuesday's loss.

Taken second overall out of Florida in June's draft, Horford isaveraging 8.8 points and 10.3 rebounds.


The Bobcats also suffered a setback on Friday, a 103-87 loss toDwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Emeka Okafor and GeraldWallace each scored 16 points in the loss.


Earlier on Friday, Charlotte traded for the services of DetroitPistons center Nazr Mohammed in exchange for Walter Herrmann andPrimoz Brezec.


The Bobcats get a defensive-minded center in the 6-10 Mohammed,who has averaged just 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in Detroit'scrowded frontcourt.


"Nazr brings the type of big body, experience and athleticismthat we been looking to add to our team," Bobcats generalmanager Ron Higgins said. "Having evaluated our roster from topto bottom, we felt it necessary to make this move and bring in aguy who could immediately help this franchise."


In their first meeting here on November 14, Johnson collected 34points and 10 boards to hold off 54 combined points fromWallace and Jason Richardson.

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">CHARLOTTE VS ATLANTA - INACTIVES

CHARLOTTE ATLANTA

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
S MAY RIGHT KNEE INJURY T LUE
RIGHT CALF STRAIN
A MORRISON TORN ACL</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">CHARLOTTE AT ATLANTA - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


CHARLOTTE ATLANTA

F Gerald Wallace F Josh Smith
F Jared Dudley F Marvin Williams
C Raymond Felton C Al Horford
G Jason Richardson G Anthony Johnson
G Emeka Okafor G Joe Johnson

OFFICIALS: Dan Crawford
Eric Lewis
Benny Adams</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 11
ATLANTA 4 9:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 15
ATLANTA 11 6:10 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 19
ATLANTA 19 3:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 22
ATLANTA 23 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHARLOTTE 22 22
ATLANTA 23 23 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

CHA - JARED DUDLEY 7, RAYMOND FELTON 4, JASON
RICHARDSON 3
ATL - JOE JOHNSON 8, MARVIN WILLIAMS 7,
ANTHONY JOHNSON 4</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 25
ATLANTA 33 9:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 28
ATLANTA 36 5:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 36
ATLANTA 39 3:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 41
ATLANTA 49 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHARLOTTE 22 19 41
ATLANTA 23 26 49 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

CHA - JASON RICHARDSON 11, EMEKA OKAFOR 8,
GERALD WALLACE 7
ATL - JOE JOHNSON 18, MARVIN WILLIAMS 11, JOSH
SMITH 10</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 47
ATLANTA 54 8:31 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 51
ATLANTA 61 5:53 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 57
ATLANTA 66 3:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 59
ATLANTA 74 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CHARLOTTE 22 19 18 59
ATLANTA 23 26 25 74 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

CHA - GERALD WALLACE 15, RAYMOND FELTON 13,
JASON RICHARDSON 11
ATL - JOE JOHNSON 26, MARVIN WILLIAMS 18, JOSH
SMITH 12</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 65
ATLANTA 81 9:04 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: CHARLOTTE at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA CHARLOTTE 73
ATLANTA 81 5:40 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>