Hawks' Johnson back in lineup after elbow surgery

Hawks star Joe Johnson returned to Atlanta's starting lineup Friday night after missing nine games recovering from surgery on his right elbow.

Johnson was initially expected to be out four to six weeks, but he returned less than three weeks after the procedure to remove loose cartilage in his shooting elbow.

The All-Star guard tested the elbow in pregame warmups and decided he was ready to play against the Charlotte Bobcats, hoping to help the Hawks snap a two-game skid.

"The therapy just went great, the swelling's gone down," Johnson said. "I've been shooting without pain and it's been feeling great. I just didn't feel like it was necessary to wait another two weeks and leave the guys hanging out there like that, man, when I could get out there and give them everything I've got."

The Hawks lost some ground in the standings while Johnson was out, going 5-4 to slip three games behind streaking Miami in the Southeast Division.