Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Joe Johnson finished with a game-high 26 points to go with seven assists, and Josh Smith added 17 points, 17 rebounds and three steals to lead Atlanta past the Chris Paul-less Hornets, 121-98.

Jamal Crawford continued to shine off the bench, notching 21 points for the Hawks, who have captured four straight, including a 97-86 win at Boston on Friday.

Mike Bibby chipped in 17 points, and Al Horford went for 14 in the win.

Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points for New Orleans, which has dropped three straight. David West pulled down 12 boards but shot just 4-of-17 from the field for eight points.

The Hornets were without their All-Star point guard in Paul, who had an MRI on his injured left ankle on Saturday, though the results have not been reported.

Back-to-back Johnson buckets started a 9-0 Hawks run midway through the first. Atlanta led 37-28 after 12 minutes and stayed in front, 65-55, at the break.

Smith's layup near the seven-minute mark of the third gave Atlanta its biggest lead at the time, 74-59. The difference was 91-78 heading to the fourth.

The Hornets scored the first six points of the final stanza and were within 95-89 after Stojakovic hit a three-pointer with roughly nine minutes left.

A 16-0 Hawks run followed, however, highlighted by three-pointers from Johnson and Bibby to put the game away.

Game Notes

The Hawks are 4-0 at home...Bobby Brown and Marcus Thornton contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Hornets, who are 0-2 under new head coach Jeff Bower...Emeka Okafor had eight points and 12 boards in the loss.