The previously red-hot Atlanta Hawks suffered a 109-102 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday. Atlanta, 15-2 since the All-Star break, the best in the Eastern Conference, fell to a team missing its MVP contender. Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum combined for 50 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists but could not carry the Hawks past the Jaylen Brown-less Celtics.
The defeat dropped the Hawks’ record to 41-33, half a game behind the Toronto Raptors for the No. 5 spot. Atlanta’s loss also allowed the Philadelphia 76ers (40-33) to inch within half a game for the No. 6 seed and final guaranteed playoff berth.
Here is how the Eastern Conference looks after Friday:
Atlanta Hawks’ Best Case Scenario Is To Earn No. 4 Seed
The Atlanta Hawks are five games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers (46-28) for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. With eight games remaining for both teams, the Hawks aren’t out of the running for that enviable spot.
Atlanta and Cleveland, tied 1-1 in the season series, will face each other twice before the regular season ends. Depending on how the next few days play out, those games could determine the No. 4 seed.
For that scenario to happen, the Hawks will be hoping the Cleveland Cavaliers will falter down the stretch. If Cleveland wins at least three more games, Atlanta’s hope of overtaking them ends.
Hawks Face Tough Schedule To Close Regular Season
The Atlanta Hawks’ goal of moving up the standings will not be easy. According to Tankathon, they have the seventh toughest schedule in the Eastern Conference. Leapfrogging past the Cleveland Cavaliers, which has the second-easiest slate, might be too much to do.
The Hawks will face teams with a combined .514 winning average to close the regular season. Among the playoff contenders that they will be playing against are the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. Atlanta can’t afford to lose to the Brooklyn Nets and the Sacramento Kings, teams they are supposed to beat.
Jalen Johnson and Co. have to focus on winning and let the chips fall where they may. They’ll be happy to grab the No. 4 spot, but they will be content to earn an outright postseason ticket. If they fall to the play-in tournament, they’ll have to enter the playoffs via the hellish route.
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