Celtics play prevent D
With loss, Hawks kept from clinching playoffs
ATLANTA - The Celtics kept the Hawks from partying like it was 1999 last night.
Even with its reserves playing most of the fourth quarter, Boston defeated Atlanta, 99-89, at a sold-out Philips Arena in a likely first-round playoff preview. Guard Sam Cassell scored 15 of his 20 points in the fourth to spark the Celtics.
The Hawks could have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1999 with a win over the Celtics after Indiana lost to Charlotte last night.
"The guys set some good screens for me, spun me open, and I did the rest," Cassell said. "I made some shots. It was fun because [coach Doc Rivers] told us at the beginning of the fourth quarter that either we are going to win it or lose it, because he wasn't going back with his starters. So the guys looked at each other and we didn't want to hear his mouth if we had lost today."
The Celtics (64-16), the top seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs, won all three meetings with Atlanta this season. The Hawks (37-43) have a magic number of 1 to land the eighth and final East playoff spot with two games remaining. Atlanta hosts Orlando Tuesday and plays its regular-season finale at Miami Wednesday. Ninth-place Indiana plays at Washington tomorrow and hosts New York Wednesday.
"We have to take care of business on Tuesday here at home," said Hawks rookie forward Al Horford, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
While the Pacers are mathematically alive, the Celtics expect to play the Hawks in the first round.
"When you've got a team that you possibly are going to see in the first round, you want to win this game," said Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who had 14 points in 27 minutes. "You don't want to give a team like that any confidence, especially going into the playoffs. If they get a win going into the playoffs, they'll feel psychologically like they can beat you.
"We erased that. We have a psychological edge going into the first round if we see them."
The Celtics owned a 55-44 halftime lead, with Kevin Garnett scoring 18 of his game-high 24 points. Boston, however, was outscored, 30-19, in the third quarter, as Atlanta shot 52 percent.
With 11:12 remaining and the Hawks leading, 76-74, the last Celtics starter still on the floor, Ray Allen (14 points), was replaced by Tony Allen. No Boston starter played more than Allen's 30 minutes.
"It's good to get them seasoning and get them ready," said Pierce of the reserves. "Get out there and get them some extended minutes. There's confidence going with that unit."
The Hawks went up, 81-76, on a 3-pointer by Mike Bibby with 9:26 remaining. Cassell's 17-foot jumper tied the game at 84 with 5:06 left. His 16-foot jumper gave Boston a 91-84 lead 1:48 remaining. Cassell then nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Celtics a 97-89 advantage and seal the game.
"You have to tip your hat to [the Celtics'] second unit because they played unbelievable," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson. "Sam Cassell down the stretch, he's made big plays his whole career, he's won a couple of titles, so he knows what it's like when it's on the line."
Cassell scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting while playing the entire fourth quarter. And after making the back-to-back 3-pointers, the 38-year-old broke out in a dance, basically saying he has the confidence to take big shots.
"Sam was huge and he made big shots," said Rivers. "That's what he does for us."
Celtics guard Eddie House (right abductor strain) and forward-center Leon Powe (sore right foot) missed their second straight games. House and Powe said their injuries aren't serious and both hoped to play tomorrow in New York. Rivers said Powe would likely return against the Knicks, but not House . . . Glen Davis said he did away with his Mohawk hairstyle because "I didn't like it. I was just trying it out." . . . Rivers said that with all due respect to Seattle's Kevin Durant, Horford should be the Rookie of the Year.
