ATLANTA (Reuters) - 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 rival Orlando and three-and-a-half 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."
The Hawks gave up the first basket of the game but then scored 19 straight points to take command of the game.
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.
The Hawks (41-32) sit third in the Southeast division and fifth in the Eastern Conference, six games behind divisional rival Orlando and three-and-a-half 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."
The Hawks gave up the first basket of the game but then scored 19 straight points to take command of the game.
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.
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