By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer
2006-07 Stats at a Glance
Joe Johnson is accustomed to making his share of 3-pointers. He isn't used to winning with the Atlanta Hawks.
It's rare when Chris Bosh makes a shot from beyond the arc - or when the Toronto Raptors are in position to move above .500.
In a matchup of teams off to surprisingly strong starts, Johnson and the Hawks look to move three games above .500 for the first time in 7{ years when they face Bosh and the Raptors on Friday at the Air Canada Centre.
Johnson scored 25 points - six on consecutive possessions in overtime - and Atlanta (3-1) won its third straight, 104-95 on Tuesday night over Cleveland.
Johnson, in his second season with the Hawks, made a long 3-pointer to put the Hawks up 101-93 in overtime and has made 50 percent (11-for-22) of his 3s this season.
Atlanta is two games above .500 for the first time since Nov. 5, 2002, when it was 3-1. The Hawks can move three games above .500 for the first time since finishing the strike-shortened 1999 season 31-19.
``It feels good, but it's a long season,'' said Johnson, averaging 27.8 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. ``Three-and-one doesn't mean a lot right now. We've got to keep grinding it out, working hard and who knows what's going to happen.''
Atlanta, which has had seven consecutive losing seasons, is showing signs of life two seasons after winning just 13 games and one season after it started 2-16. The Hawks didn't get win No. 3 last year until Dec. 10 and finished 26-56.
The Hawks never recovered after opening last season 0-9. With a young nucleus including Johnson and Josh Smith, though, they're confident 2006-07 will be different.
``This is a big confidence boost for us,'' said Atlanta point guard Tyronn Lue, who made a buzzer-beating layup over LeBron James to force overtime Tuesday. ``We've found a way to win these games down the stretch.''
Hawks guard Speedy Claxton sat out the second half because of soreness in both knees. He's still building up his minutes after missing the entire preseason with a broken bone in his left hand. His status for Friday's game is uncertain.
Bosh didn't make a 3-pointer last season, but after working on his long-range shooting last summer, Toronto's talented forward saw it pay off Wednesday night. Bosh made a go-ahead 3 with 6.1 seconds left and finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds, lifting the Raptors (2-2) to a 106-104 victory over Philadelphia.
With two wins in its last three games, Toronto has a chance to move above .500 for the first time since it was 4-3 on Nov. 13, 2004.
Bosh made his first 3-pointer of the season earlier in the game, his first since April 13, 2005, against New York. He went 0-for-13 from behind the arc last season, but was 2-for-2 on Wednesday. He's 10-for-40 in his career.
``Chris Bosh - words can't describe how he's playing and the challenge he's taking. The scary thing is, he's 22 years old,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said.
Bosh is averaging a team-high 22.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
Atlanta ended a run of five straight losses to Toronto with a 113-111 overtime road win March 1.
Copyright 2006 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
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