"I was just trying to be aggressive, trying to make a play," Johnson said.

That's the way it worked for most of the night for the Hawks, who prevailed despite a rough shooting night from deep (6-for-23 from beyond the three-point line).

"Bad rotations," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "We fought that the whole game. We did not execute the things we practice every single day. We're putting ourselves in a position to win against elite teams. That's the good news. The bad news is we haven't figured out how to win games down the stretch."

That's something the Hawks have suddenly developed a penchant for, pulling out all three of their last three games with methodical fourth-quarter efforts.

--Hawks coach Mike Woodson had to scrape and claw to come up with the 100 tickets needed for all his family friends.

Now if his Hawks could just come up with a win in his hometown. Before Tuesday's game, the Hawks had lost five straight to the Pacers in Indiana, each one of them in nasty fashion.

Woodson's desire for his team to do well in Indiana had more to do with him wanting his team to put on a good show in his hometown. But a good effort before so many family members and friends wouldn't hurt.

"Of course I want to win here," Woodson said. "Who doesn't want to do well at home? We only come two times a year, so our opportunities are limited. But I want to win everywhere we go and every time out, whether it's on our floor or somewhere else."

Woodson didn't get any hometown hero treatment from the officials. Referee Louis Grillo whistled him for a technical foul with 5:01 to play before halftime for arguing.

--The Hawks' hot shooting from beyond the three-point line ended with Monday's win over Denver at Philips Arena. They shot just 1-for-14 from deep in the first half.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "In the fourth quarter I just decided I was going to catch it, go quick and just try to make the easy play." -- Joe Johnson, on his mentality in the fourth quarter.