FP – A final-quarter blitz from Atlanta’s Joe Johnson handed the Milwaukee Bucks their second loss at home in the lockout-shortened NBA season.

The Bucks returned home on Monday after their first two wins away from Wisconsin this year, but had no answers for Johnson’s surge.

Australian centre Andrew Bogut watched from the bench as Johnson scored 14 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Hawks to a 97-92 win.

Bogut had 12 rebounds, but could net only six points, and didn’t see any action in the decisive fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah returned from injury to guide the Chicago Bulls to an emphatic 110-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

Rose, who had missed four games with a sprained left big toe, scored 22 points with eight assists.

Noah, who was out for one game with a left ankle sprain, posted a double-double of 22 points and 10 assists as all five Chicago starters scored in double figures.

Rose showed little rust, but said he expected to deal with his toe injury the entire season.

“It’s never going to be right this year,” said Rose, although he said the swelling had subsided and he wore special inserts in his shoes to alleviate discomfort.

“It’s just something I have to play through.”

In Boston, Paul Pierce scored 19 points and handed out seven assists to lead the Celtics to an 87-56 victory over Orlando.

It was the Celtics’ first win over a winning-record team this season.

The Celtics overcame a host of injury absences, including starting guards Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.

Rondo missed his third straight game with a sprained right wrist, while Allen hurt his left ankle in a win over Washington on Sunday.

Brandon Bass helped fill the void, delivering 19 points off the bench, and veteran Kevin Garnett chipped in 14 points with 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who had been 0-6 this season against teams with winning records.

Dwight Howard led Orlando with 18 points and 14 rebounds, but no other Magic player scored in double figures.

NBA champions Dallas were able to overcome the loss of top scorer Dirk Nowitzki and key reserve Vince Carter, edging the Phoenix Suns 93-87.

Shawn Marion scored a season-high 29 points as short-handed Dallas stretched their home winning streak to seven games.

New Orleans suffered their eighth straight loss, with San Antonio winning 104-102 thanks to Tim Duncan’s season-high 28 points.

Houston thumped the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-92 to record their seventh straight win.

In other results, the Philadelphia 76ers downed the Washington Wizards 103-83 and Oklahoma City crushed the Detroit Pistons 99-79.