Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Dyson Daniels has helped Atlanta clinch a playoff spot and their first Southeast Division title in five years.
The Boomers star had 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Hawks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-102 on Friday night in Atlanta.
It was the in-form Daniels’ second triple double of his NBA career.
Daniels scored six straight points in an 8-0 run in the second quarter that gave the Hawks a handy lead at 43-35. They ended the first half on a 26-13 surge, fuelled by CJ McCollum’s four three-pointers in the final 3:09, to carry a 61-48 advantage into the intermission.
McCollum top scored with 29 points as the hosts used a big third quarter to blow away the Cavaliers.
The Hawks had not won the Southeast Division since 2021, when they ultimately advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. They have been in the play-in tournament the last four seasons.
James Harden scored 20 points for the Cavs, who are locked into the No.4 seed in the East.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 18 points and Jalen Johnson added 18 points and nine rebounds before sitting out the final 10 minutes for the Hawks.
The Hawks have won 14 of their final 15 home games ahead of the playoffs.
Atlanta led 66-55 in the third quarter, then put together a 16-0 run to push the lead to 27. It was never threatened thereafter.
In the other early matches, Detroit, who had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference, beat the Charlote Hornets 118-110 away.
The Hornets’ loss means they will be in the East’s play-in tournament and eliminated any chance of them advancing directly to the playoffs.
Jalen Brunson scored 29 points, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the New York Knicks clinched the No.3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 112-95 win over Toronto – their 13th consecutive win over the Raptors.
The victory improved the Knicks to 53-28, in what could be a preview of a first-round playoff series.
The Boston Celtics tied the franchise and NBA record with 29 threes on their way to clinching the Eastern Conference’s No.2 playoff seed with a 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jaylen Brown added 23 points in 29 minutes, sitting out the entire fourth quarter. Payton Pritchard finished with 21 points and 10 assists for Boston, who clinched the Atlantic Division.
The Philadelphia 76ers (44-37) maintained their eighth-place position in the Eastern Conference with one game remaining after a 105-94 win over the Indiana Pacers.
At the other end of the table, the Washington Wizards clinched the worst record in the NBA with a 140-117 loss to the Miami Heat.
Washington (17-64) have lost nine in a row and 25 of their last 26 to become the first NBA team to lose 64 games in three consecutive seasons.
