"What are they going to do now?

"We are going to win," Hawks guard Jamal Crawford said.

Atlanta pressed on Wednesday without guard Joe Johnson, beating Memphis 112-109. The Hawks improved to 5-3 in the past two-plus seasons with Johnson out of the lineup.

However, that was just one night against a so-so opponent. Now the Hawks will have to find alternative means for another 20 games or more with opponents who include Miami, Orlando, San Antonio, Boston, New Orleans and Oklahoma City.

Johnson had surgery on Thursday to clean out a "loose body" from his right elbow and will begin rehabilitation on Friday. The team said he will be out four to six weeks.

As a practical matter, the Hawks are well suited to replace Johnson because the roster has five other guards. From a statistical standpoint, the Hawks are losing a lot of production."