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Final Score: Boston 92 - Atlanta 97

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Joe Johnson scored a career playoff-high 35 points, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter, to lead the Atlanta Hawks in a dramatic 97-92 victory over the Celtics, tying their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series after four games.

The Hawks outscored Boston, 32-17, in the fourth quarter to upend the East's top seed for a second straight contest with Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday at TD Banknorth Garden.

Josh Smith added 28 points -- 12 in the fourth -- to go with a franchise playoff-record seven blocks in helping the Hawks overcome two double-digit deficits in the game. Mike Bibby finished with 18 points, and Al Horford swallowed up a game-high 13 rebounds for the victors, who drained a terrific 29-of-33 at the foul line.

Ray Allen hit five three-pointer en route to a team-high 21 points for the Celtics, who hit just 10-of-18 from the stripe. Kevin Garnett had 20 points, nine boards and six steals, and Paul Pierce tallied 18 points on a sub par 5-of-14 effort from the floor. Rajon Rondo chipped in 14 points and 12 assists, but was benched in crunch time in favor of veteran Sam Cassell.

Atlanta trailed by 10 heading into the fourth, but drained the first seven points to set the table for a breakneck deciding period.

Johnson hit a free throw following a defensive three-second violation, and Smith followed with a jumper from just inside the three-point line to give the Hawks an 81-79 edge with just over five minutes left in the game.

Johnson then took control on each Atlanta possession, hitting a three-pointer, two running layups and a seven-footer during a three-minute span. The sequence gave the Hawks an 88-82 lead with 2:16 remaining.

"It was time to step up," Johnson said of his fourth-quarter heroics. "I thought that we played pretty good [for] three quarters. The third quarter not so great. But in the fourth quarter, like I said, we've been down before and we were down 10 going into the fourth, and we rallied back, took the lead and never looked back."

Ahead, 90-87 with under a minute left, Smith took a three-pointer as the shot clock was winding down, and though his attempt was off the mark, Josh Childress soared for the offensive board to maintain possession. Johnson was then fouled and made 1-of-2 from the line, and Pierce missed a forced and errant layup on the other end.

Smith and Johnson each hit two free throws, sandwiched around an Allen jam.

James Posey hit a three-pointer with 4.3 ticks left to make it one-possession game at 95-92, but Atlanta finished it off at the foul line with Smith nailing the final two.

"This is a disappointing loss for us," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We started the first quarter out terrific, but then we got into foul trouble, and I think that's when the momentum swung in their favor. Give the Hawks credit. I thought they played terrific, and in the fourth quarter, Joe Johnson was terrific. He made some tough shots and put the team on his back."

After trading leads for the better part of the third quarter, Rondo led the Celtics on a 13-2 spurt to end the frame. The guard book-ended the rally with a pair of field goals and assisted on an Allen jumper and Posey three-ball.

The Hawks hit just one field goal -- a Smith mini-hook -- in the final four minutes of the quarter, finding themselves behind, 75-65 with 12 minutes to play.

The game of runs started early with Boston showcasing its outside shooting for a 16-3 lead as Pierce and Allen combined to hit three from behind the arc.

Atlanta would not be intimidated by the uphill climb, as a Bibby three-pointer sandwiched between two Johnson field goals ignited a 20-3 run to end the opening period. Johnson's jumper from the top of the key provided a 29-24 Atlanta advantage at the first-quarter buzzer.

The Hawks continued their solid play before seven straight Boston points made it a one-point game with 5:43 left in a physical second stanza. Atlanta survived the Celtics' counter-punch and took a 51-48 lead at the break.

"Definitely," Johnson responded when asked if Atlanta has swung the momentum of the series in its favor. "We've won the last two games. We took care of home court. And now somehow, someway we've got to go to Boston and steal us a victory."