The Atlanta Hawks stayed red-hot this month after edging the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, 130-129, on the road in overtime Wednesday — a win with major implications in the postseason seeding race.
CJ McCollum and Jalen Johnson each poured in 27 points in the victory. McCollum also dished out five assists, while Johnson added 12 assists and eight rebounds.
It was an efficient offensive outing for the Hawks’ starters, with Dyson Daniels posting 16 points and 13 rebounds, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 21 points, and Onyeka Okongwu contributing 11 markers.
The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break and snapped Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
Atlanta overcame big performances from Pistons players Jalen Duren, who had 26 points and 14 rebounds, Tobias Harris with 22 points, and Daniss Jenkins, who recorded 19 points and 10 assists.
With just nine games left in the regular season, the Hawks have now shifted their focus to locking in a playoff spot. Here’s where things stand.
Atlanta Hawks Playoff Picture: Updated Standings
The victory pushed the Hawks to a 41-32 record, moving them up to fifth place in the East. They leapfrogged the Toronto Raptors, who fell to 40-32 after a loss to the LA Clippers on Wednesday.
The race from No. 5 to No. 10 in the East remains tight, with just 2.5 games separating the teams. The Philadelphia 76ers sit at 40-33, followed by the Miami Heat at 39-34, and the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic both at 38-34.
Securing a top-six finish is crucial, as it allows teams to avoid the play-in tournament and guarantees a playoff berth.
Atlanta Hawks Playoff Picture: Remaining Schedule
The Hawks will look to extend their hot streak over the final nine games of the regular season.
However, it won’t be easy, as they have the sixth-toughest remaining schedule, and the third-toughest in the East, according to Tankathon’s strength-of-schedule metric.
Atlanta’s next game is against the Boston Celtics on Friday. The Celtics are coming off a win over defending champion OKC Thunder on Wednesday. The Hawks then face a quick turnaround with a matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Next week, they will face the Celtics again on Monday before traveling to take on the Orlando Magic on Wednesday and the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
They will then return home to face the New York Knicks, followed by a road game against Cleveland on April 8 and a home matchup against the Cavaliers on April 10.
Atlanta will wrap up its regular season on April 12 against the Miami Heat.
The team with the toughest remaining schedule in the East is Charlotte, which is in the play-in mix, followed by the Knicks, who are likely to secure home-court advantage in the playoffs.
