Final
Knicks and Hawks tune up for playoffs
Apr 22, 2012 - 3:25 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Eastern Conference teams tuning up for the playoffs meet in the Peach State on Sunday when the Atlanta Hawks play host to the New York Knicks.The Hawks are currently the fifth seed in the East and are likely headed for a first round matchup with Boston while New York is deadlocked with Philadelphia for the seventh spot but has the tiebreaker over the 76ers with just three games to play.
Atlanta topped Boston in a possible playoff preview on Friday when Joe Johnson had 30 points, six assists and five rebounds, and Josh Smith added his 27th double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 boards as the Hawks handled the short- handed Celtics, 97-92.
Kirk Hinrich, Jason Collins and Willie Green tallied eight points apiece for Atlanta, which has won seven of its last nine games overall. The Celtics rested their four biggest starts, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, however.
"Minus who played or not, we know that they're a well coached basketball team. They play hard, we were able to come out and establish ourselves early. They made a run throughout the game, we definitely responded with runs of our own," Smith said.
The Hawks have a 1 1/2-game lead over fourth-seeded Boston for home- court advantage in the possible quarterfinals matchup.
The Knicks, meanwhile, welcomed Amare Stoudemire back to the lineup but fell in Cleveland on Friday, 98-90.
Stoudemire, who had missed 13 straight games with a bulging disk in his lower back, scored 15 points. Steve Novak also had 15 while Carmelo Anthony finished with 12 on 5-of-13 shooting.
"I'm not really concerned about the flow or anything, guys have to make adjustments," Anthony said of Stoudemire's return. "We're glad that he's back and as far as the offense goes, he can come right in and get back to where he left off."
The Hawks snapped a three-game skid to New York with a 100-90 win at Philips Arena back on March 30.
This game also has implications on other playoff-bound teams. If the Knicks win this afternoon Indiana will clinch the East's third seed. However, if Atlanta takes it, Orlando will snare the sixth spot.
- NEW YORK: 113
ATLANTA: 112
Final
Apr 22 3:40 PM - NEW YORK: 113
ATLANTA: 112
End of Regulation
Apr 22 3:39 PM - NEW YORK: 94
ATLANTA: 93
End of 3rd
Apr 22 3:00 PM - NEW YORK: 60
ATLANTA: 65
Halftime
Apr 22 2:14 PM - NEW YORK: 31
ATLANTA: 31
End of 1st
Apr 22 1:39 PM - NEW YORK: 0
ATLANTA: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Apr 22 1:11 PM
Related News
- Knicks Robbed By Late Call on Jalen Brunson Feb 13
- REPORT: Boston’s interest in Kelly Olynyk and obstacles to a Knicks’ Dejounte Murray trade Dec 26
- Knicks 129, Bucks 122: “Manhattanite Christmas Carol“ Dec 26
- Scenes from a Christmas miracle at MSG Dec 25
- NBA Christmas Day 2023: open thread Dec 25
- Christmas Game Thread: New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks, December 25, 2023 Dec 25
- Christmas game preview, Knicks vs Bucks: Prediction, time, and how to watch Dec 24
- Hawks unable to hold off Memphis momentum in loss to Grizzlies Dec 24
- Preview of the Knicks’ upcoming week, Dec. 24-30. Dec 24
- Bucks 130, Knicks 111: “Matinee game continues to bring sadness” Dec 24
- Grizzlies at Hawks: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread Dec 23
- Scenes from Milwaukee being rotten house guests Dec 23