PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns – and their fans – spoiled Joe Johnson's homecoming.
Booing Johnson incessantly, the crowd of 16,992 at America West Arena helped boost the Suns to an easy 112-94 victory over Johnson's Atlanta Hawks last night.
"I expected it," Johnson said, "but it was more than I thought it would be. I'm glad this one's over."
Last season, the raucous Phoenix fans showered Johnson with cheers during the team's 62-victory season. This time, they showed no mercy for the veteran guard, who bolted the Suns during the summer for the worst team in the NBA.
"It was funny," Johnson said of the fickle fans. "Now I was on the opposite side. It was fool's gold. It was fun coming back home, but I'm glad it's over."
James Jones scored a season-high 20 points and Shawn Marion also had 20 to lead the Suns to their sixth consecutive victory.
The Suns' winning streak is the longest in the NBA and lifted them within a half-game of the Pacific Division co-leaders, the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State.
It also was Phoenix's sixth straight home victory and the eighth game in a row the Suns have held an opponent under 100 points.
Johnson, who went from Phoenix to Atlanta 3½ months ago, scored 23 points in his first game with the Hawks against his former team, but sat out the final 15 minutes when the outcome no longer was in doubt.
"I didn't want to get out there again – to get more boos," he said.
The Suns' early balance was too much for the overmatched Hawks, who lost their fifth straight and fell to 2-14, the worst record in the league.
Eddie House and Boris Diaw each scored 14 for Phoenix, and Kurt Thomas grabbed 11 rebounds.
Rookie Marvin Williams had season-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta, most of them in the fourth quarter, and Salim Stoudemire had 14 points.
Johnson went to the Hawks on Aug. 19 in a sign-and-trade deal for Diaw, two conditional first-round draft picks and a $6 million trade exemption, which the Suns used a portion of to acquire Jones from Indiana in another sign-and-trade transaction.
Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said of the booing: "This guy gave them some good years. He didn't deserve that. He can walk out of this locker room with his head held high."
