NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 17: Al Horford #15 of the Atlanta Hawks scores two over Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on March 17, 2013 in New York City. The Hawks defeated the Nets 105-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Hawks center Al Horford

On the game: 

“I think we played our game. That is the bottom line. We usually make adjustments for other teams but tonight we just played our game.  We started the fourth quarter playing great with Ivan [Johnson] and John [Jenkins]. They did well in setting a tone and had some great rebounds. But our defense played a major role tonight.”

On defending Brook Lopez:

“I just wanted to be solid on him. He is an All-Star and a great player. It is tough to stop a guy that good but I tried the best that I could.”

Hawks guard Kyle Korver

On game play:

“We like to play up-tempo and run to open up the floor. That is when we are at our best, I thought tonight we did that. It was a good win.”

On the Eastern Conference Standings:

“When you start to look at the standings and the tiebreakers, it all comes into play at the end of the season. It was a big win for us as far as that goes. We are fighting for positioning so we need as many wins as we can get right now.”

Nets center Brook Lopez

On when the game started to unravel:

“I think we didn’t really get stops and they were able to get a lot of second chance opportunities. I personally did not play very well at all and I think they took advantage of that.”

On the defensive issues:

“I think we can put a lot of it on ourselves and particularly me. They did very well in the paint tonight and I think that was the game right there.”

On what this loss means with the road trip coming up:

“I always say the good thing about the NBA is that there is always another game and we play again tomorrow and I think we will definitely be much more focused throughout the entire game”

Nets forward Joe Johnson

On how upsetting the fourth quarter was:

“It was very frustrating; it was almost as if we didn’t know the significance of this game. Regardless of who’s playing however many minutes, we need to get a win and now we have to go on the road for six/seven games and we cant leave here without a win.”

On the sense of urgency on this road trip:

“I do not know if the urgency will pick up. I can’t say anything on that.”

On what the biggest issue was tonight:

“Tonight, we were’n't able to get into a tempo. Their big guys push the ball and make plays. At one point and time in the fourth quarter even on the pick and roll they had Al [Horford] and Josh [Smith] so we really didn’t know how to cover it and it hurt us.”

Quick Facts

Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Brooklyn Nets

What?: Joe Johnson’s Return (Game #38, Home Game #19)

Where?: Philips Arena (Atlanta, GA)

When?: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 – 7:30 PM (ET)

How?: SportSouth HDTV / 680AM & 93.7FM

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Projected Starting Lineups

Atlanta Hawks: 

PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Devin Harris | SF: Kyle Korver | PF: Zaza Pachulia | C: Al Horford

Brooklyn Nets:

PG: Deron Williams | SG: Joe Johnson | SF: Keith Bogans | PF: Reggie Evans | C: Brook Lopez

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Injury/Inactive Players Report

Atlanta Hawks: Anthony Morrow (sore lower back) is questionable. Josh Smith (one-game suspension) is out.

Brooklyn Nets: Gerald Wallace (bruised ribs) is a game-time decision.

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Current Records/Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold

Records: Atlanta Hawks (21-16) … Brooklyn Nets (23-15)

Streak: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 2 / HOME: Won 1 / ROAD: Lost 4 … Brooklyn Nets –> OVERALL: Won 7 / HOME: Won 6 / ROAD: Won 3

Home/Away Records: Hawks are (12-6) at home … Nets are (8-8) on the road.

Atlanta Hawks: Ice Cold. Hawks have lost two straight including suffering the worst loss of the season two days ago as the Chicago Bulls trounced the Hawks 97-58. Atlanta has lost 6-of-8 overall since January 1.

Brooklyn Nets: Hot. Brooklyn is on a seven-game win streak and post a 9-1 record since firing Avery Johnson and being led by interim head coach e P.J. Carlesimo.

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Season/Past Season Series

The Hawks host the Nets for the first time this year in the first-of-four games between the clubs. Atlanta travels to Brooklyn on 1/18 and 3/17, while hosting the Nets again on 3/9. The Hawks currently own a five-game winning streak in the series and have won seven straight at Philips Arena. Brooklyn’s last win over Atlanta was an 89-82 home decision on 12/19/10 (in New Jersey), while their last victory at Philips Arena came on 11/15/08 (119-107). The Hawks lead the all-time series 88-65, including a 56-20 advantage at home.

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Common Threads

Devin Harris (part of 2007-08 through part of 2010-11), Anthony Morrow (2010-12), Johan Petro (2010-12) and DeShawn Stevenson (2011-12) are all former Nets. Larry Drew was an assistant coach with the Nets in 2003-04. Lester Conner spent time playing for the Nets from 1988-91. Joe Johnson spent seven seasons in Atlanta (2005-12), scoring over 10,000 points. Jerry Stackhouse saw action in 30 games for the Hawks last year. MarShon Brooks is a Tucker native (Tucker HS). Damion James was drafted by the Hawks in 2010, but swapped to the Nets in exchange for Jordan Crawford in a draft night deal, and also was in training camp with Atlanta earlier this year. Stevenson and Andray Blatche were teammates with Washington from 2006 through part of 2009-10. Stevenson (part of 2003-04 in Orlando) and Kyle Korver (2010-11 with Chicago) have both been teammates of Keith Bogans. Korver (Philadelphia for part of 2007-08), Lou Williams (Philadelphia 2007-09) and Johan Petro (Seattle for part of 2005-06) have all teamed-up with Reggie Evans. Morrow (Golden State 2008-10), Anthony Tolliver (Golden State for part of 2009-10) and Kyle Korver (Chicago 2010-12) were all teammates with C.J. Watson. Korver and Deron Williams teamed together with Utah (part of 2007-08 through 2010)

Information was used from the Hawks and Nets official gamenotes