Hawks clinch playoffs spot with Nets win
0 
The Atlanta Hawks clinched a spot in the playoffs by strolling to a 98-87 win over the struggling New Jersey Nets on Saturday.
The Hawks (41-32) sit third in the Southeast division and fifth in the Eastern Conference, six games behind divisional rivals the Orlando Magic and 3-1/2 games clear of the Philadelphia 76ers.
"It feels really good. We knew we would be in, but it's always good to actually know for sure," Jamal Crawford, who came off the bench to score 18 points, told reporters.
"We've been struggling a little bit, and we'll take any win we can get. Hopefully, this will catapult us."
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: Bobcats 114, Knicks 106; Pistons 100, Pacers 88; Mavericks 94, Jazz 77; Bulls 95, Bucks 87; and Clippers 94, Raptors 90.
In Atlanta, Georgia, the Hawks gave up the first basket of the game but then scored 19 straight points to seize control.
They extended the lead to 30 points in the third quarter before the Nets (23-49) rallied in the fourth to reduce the lead to 10.
"You knew they would come out and try to knock us out early, but if you watch how we play, we come back and battle," said Nets head coach Avery Johnson.
"There are no moral victories, but we played well after the weak start. I told them we really stunk in the first half in every phase of the game."
Four Hawks starters reached double digits led by Al Horford's 23 points and 12 rebounds. Josh Smith added 22 points for the Hawks, who are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Atlanta lost five-time All-Star guard Joe Johnson with a strained right thumb in the third quarter. He returned to the bench after having X-rays, but did not return to the game. He didn't leave with the team for yesterday's game at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Anthony Morrow had 25 points for the Nets, who have lost six of seven.
