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High-flying Hawks host Sixers in key Eastern Conference tilt

Apr 4, 2008 - 1:19 PM Philadelphia (38-37) at Atlanta (35-40) 7:30 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The surging Atlanta Hawks look to move closer to their first playoff appearance in nine years on Friday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers in the front end of a home-and-home series.

Atlanta, which has won five straight, is coming off a 127-120 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

Mike Bibby hit a game-tying 3-pointer with five-tenths of a second left in regulation, and Josh Smith hit a pair of key 3-pointers in the extra session.

The win helped the Hawks move four games ahead of Indiana (31-44) and idle New Jersey (31-44) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We're trying to make the playoffs, and you can see it from (this) game," Smith said. "We were able to play our hearts off in the second half. We were able to get out to the shooters and play with a bunch of confidence."

Meanwhile, the 76ers are closing in on their first playoff appearance since the 2004-05 season. Andre Miller had 24 points and 11 assists in helping the Sixers snap a two-game skid with a 108-99 win over New Jersey on Tuesday.

Philadelphia, which has won 20 of its last 27 games, is tied with Toronto for fifth in the East. The Sixers are three games ahead of the Hawks for the sixth spot.

"We had to (win)," said Miller of Tuesday's game. "We talked about it and we can't worry about what other teams are doing."

Atlanta has won both meetings this season. Smith had 19 points, nine blocks and nine assists in the last meeting to lead the Hawks to a 96-91 victory here on February 4.

The teams wrap up the series in Philadelphia on Saturday.