Surprising Hawks take top-seed Celtics to a Game 7 in Boston

Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (43) and forward Paul Pierce (34) watch from the sideline during the fourth quarter in Game 6 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, May 2, 2008 in Atlanta. Atlanta won 103-100 to even the best-of-seven games series at 3-3. Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday, May 4 in Boston. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

ATLANTA—This was supposed to be the biggest mismatch of the playoffs, the series that would surely be four and done. Well, look who's still alive in the opening round -- the Atlanta Hawks.

While all the other series are finished, Atlanta has improbably forced a Game 7 with the Boston Celtics, whose 66-win regular season suddenly looks a lot less impressive as they struggle to put away the sub-.500 Hawks.

Atlanta won for the third straight time on its home court, a 103-100 victory Friday night that sent the series back to Boston one more time for a decisive game Sunday.

"They are playing great," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "They're athletic. They're playing with energy. We have to match that."

While the Celtics looked a bit shell-shocked after their third loss to the Hawks in seven days, they insisted their confidence wasn't shaken. After all, they won the first three games in Boston by an average of 22 points -- and they're heading home.

"No one has lost a home game," Rivers said. "That's why home court is so important."

Also on Friday night, Utah closed out its series against Houston in Game 6 with a 113-91 victory. LeBron James had a triple-double and Cleveland ended its series against Washington, with a 105-88 win in Washington.

The Hawks, just 37-45 during the regular season and making their first playoff appearance in nine years, sure took advantage of their place. Streamers again poured from the rafters at Philips Arena while the record crowd of 20,425 chanted, "Seven! Seven! Seven!"

"I feel very good," said Zaza Pachulia, a little-used center who's making quite an impact in this series. "You've got to be able to win on the road. We've lost three in a row. We should be able to win one up there. It would be sad if we lost four in a row."

Marvin Williams led the Hawks with 18 points despite missing much of the fourth quarter with a sprained left knee. Kevin Garnett had 22 points for the Celtics and Ray Allen added 20, but Paul Pierce -- the other member of Boston's Big Three -- fouled out on a disputed call with 4:44 remaining.

"It's definitely a dream," Atlanta's Josh Smith said.

Joe Johnson, who went to the final period with just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, saved his biggest shot for the end. He got James Posey in the air with a pump fake before hitting Atlanta's only 3-pointer of the game to make it 100-95 with 1:07 remaining.

"I felt like it would go in when it left my hand," Johnson said.

Posey returned the favor by making a tough 3 from the wing with 48 seconds left, and the Celtics had a chance when Johnson missed a runner in the lane.

Wanting to finish off the pesky Hawks, Boston drew up a play to give Allen a look from beyond the arc. He missed, though; Johnson grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit two free throws with 10.6 seconds left.

After a quick basket by Garnett, Mike Bibby made only one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds to go, giving the Celtics a shot at overtime. But the Hawks kept the ball from Allen and Posey, forcing Rajon Rondo to launch a long 3 that didn't even hit the rim as the horn sounded.

The place went nuts.

"I've played 13 years, and I've been here every year for 13 years," Garnett said. "This is the first time I've seen this atmosphere like this (in Atlanta). That's the intensity of the playoffs."

Pierce has apparently had enough of Atlanta. He watched the final minutes with a towel over his head, barely able to watch, then cleared out of the locker room by the time reporters were let him. The only thing left behind was a banana peel on the shelf of his stall.

Pierce was called for his sixth foul away from the play fighting for rebounding position with Pachulia. The Boston star was livid over the call, ripping off his headband and standing under the basket in disbelief.

The officials called a technical on Pierce while "Hit The Road Jack" blared throughout the arena. Johnson made the free throw, giving the Hawks a 96-89 lead.

Williams twisted his knee awkwardly trying to guard Pierce on a drive through the lane early in the fourth. The Hawks initially announced the third-year forward would not return, but he checked in to play defense with 20 seconds to go, still hobbling.

He'd already done enough at that point. In his best game of the series, Williams went 6-of-9 from the field and made all six of his free throws.

Atlanta got double figures from every starters. Besides Williams' 18, Bibby had 17, rookie Al Horford 16, Johnson 15, and Smith -- who played less than 30 minutes because of foul trouble -- finished with 11. Off the bench, Childress had 15 points and six rebounds, while Pachulia contributed nine points and six rebounds.

"We're going to Game 7! Woooooooooo!" Pachulia screamed.

Cavaliers 105, Wizards 88

At Washington, LeBron James compiled 27 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his third career playoff triple-double, all the while helping slow Caron Butler at the defensive end, and Cleveland ended its contentious series with Washington in six games.

Wally Szczerbiak added a career playoff-best 26 points and reserve Daniel Gibson had 22, combining for 10 of Cleveland's 11 3-pointers.

Butler finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Antawn Jamison led Washington with 23 points and 15 boards. The Wizards played without Darius Songaila, who was suspended for hitting James in the face in Game 5.

Jazz 113, Rockets 91

Deron Williams scored 13 of his 25 points in the decisive third quarter, and Utah knocked Houston out of the playoffs in the opening round for the second straight year.

The Jazz were determined to avoid a Game 7 in Houston, site of their embarrassing 95-69 loss in Game 5 on Tuesday. Instead, the Jazz are headed to Los Angeles and open the second round against the Lakers on Sunday.

Tracy McGrady scored 40 for the Rockets, but could not beat the Jazz by himself and fell to 0-7 in playoff series.

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