Hawks aim for No. 1 spot in East vs. Heat
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Hawks will welcome the Miami Heat to Philips Arena Friday night in what could be a potential first-round playoff matchup between Southeast Division rivals.
The Hawks already clinched the Southeast Division and are closing in on wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. With a Hawks victory on Friday, coupled with a Cleveland Cavaliers loss (they play in Brooklyn), Atlanta would secure the top ranking in the conference. The Hawks have been the No. 1 seed only once, back in the 1993-94 season.
The Heat are currently seventh in the conference. The four-time Eastern Conference champions are two games clear of the Boston Celtics and 2 1/2 in front of the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets and Nets.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Hawks rebounded from an ugly three-game losing streak with a 95-83 road win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Atlanta fell to the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder on the road, then came home and lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
But, Atlanta got back into the win column over Orlando.
Paul Millsap recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Hawks. Jeff Teague scored 16 points with nine assists and he fueled a late scoring surge for Atlanta that helped snap its season-high three-game losing streak.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I've been real chilled on the court lately and coach kind of challenged me the other day, telling me to pick it up," said Teague.
Kyle Korver had 13 points with eight rebounds, while DeMarre Carroll and Dennis Schroder each added 11 points in the win.
Atlanta opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer from Schroder to tie the game at 71-71, but Andrew Nicholson fired in a trey at the other end, kicking off a 7-0 spurt that he capped with a jumper.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Hawks went nearly four minutes without a point early in the fourth during Orlando's run. Al Horford ended the drought with a layup from Teague, and Korver hit a 3 that cut the deficit to 79-76 with 6:23 remaining.
Teague's layup almost two minutes later gave Atlanta its first lead since the opening minute, and he scored the final five points of what turned into a 22-4 run to end the game for the Hawks.
The Heat snapped a two-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 93-86 road win over the Celtics. Miami has still won four of its last six and also secured the tiebreaker over Boston after clinching the season series 3-1.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Goran Dragic had 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds to lead the Heat. Luol Deng netted 15 points and Udonis Haslem added 12 points and 12 boards for the Heat.
"As a captain he led this team tonight with his toughness," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Haslem.
Henry Walker and Tyler Johnson scored 12 points apiece for the Heat.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Heat guard Dwyane Wade was held out Wednesday after suffering a knee injury against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday. The All-Star is listed as questionable Friday.
Boston began the fourth on an extended 21-7 run to trim a once 22-point second half deficit to 89-83 following Phil Pressey's layup with 1:59 left. Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart, though, missed left wing triples for an opportunity to make it a one-possession game in the final 1:15.
The Celtics never got within less than five the rest of the way.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Hawks have taken five straight over the Heat and will go for their first season sweep since the 1990-91 season.