Hawks send LeBron and Heat to fourth straight loss
MIAMI (Reuters) - The Atlanta Hawks handed the ailing Miami Heat a season-high fourth straight loss with a 93-89 overtime victory on Tuesday that spoiled the return of LeBron James to the lineup.
The two-times reigning NBA Most Valuable Player also missed a three-point attempt in the dying seconds of regulation and was just 11-for-30 from the field in what was a night of poor shooting for both sides.
Johnson ended with 19 points and 10 assists while Atlanta (28-15) also got 19 points from reserve Jamal Crawford.
"Guys knew this was going to be one of those games that even though it's January that you get measured on," Crawford told reporters. "It's a good barometer."
Dwyane Wade recorded 27 points playing through a sore knee that kept him out of Monday's practice and Chris Bosh missed his first contest for Miami (30-13) with a sprained ankle he suffered during Saturday's loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Prior to their rash of injuries and recent slump, the Heat had won 21 of 22 games.
Miami led Atlanta by six with about three minutes left in regulation before the Hawks went on an 11-2 run. James answered with five straight points for the Heat as the battle waged into overtime.
The win moved Atlanta within two games of the Southeast Division lead held by Miami, which is second in the Eastern Conference.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)