HAWKS REPORT

> LOOKING BELOW: As much as they would like to block out everything else, the Hawks can’t help but pay attention to the teams behind them in the Eastern Conference standings. If the standings hold form in the next week, the Hawks will face either Miami or Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs, with home-court advantage still to be determined. “In a perfect world you’d ignore that stuff,” center Al Horford said. “But I think it’s human nature to keep an eye on those other teams while also maintaining our focus on what we have to do and taking care of our business.” That business included trying to win a second consecutive road game for the first time since February when they played Milwaukee on Wednesday.

> ROAD WOES: Coach Mike Woodson objected to the notion that the Hawks’ lopsided home and road records somehow paint them in a different light than most of the rest of the league. “There are only seven teams in our league playing better than .500 on the road this season,” he said. “So that makes us one of 23 teams in the league taking a beating on the road. But we’ve handled our business pretty much at home, and that’s what’s put us in the position we’re in to secure home-court advantage.” The Hawks went more than a month without a road win before Tuesday’s 118-110 win in Toronto, the last coming March 2. In fairness, they played only five road games in that span.

> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT: Anyone doubting how serious the Hawks are about securing that fourth spot, and the home-court advantage that comes with it, need only listen to the Hawks talk about how important it is. Having seen how difficult life on the road is in the postseason in last year’s series against Boston, they know the importance of snagging the fourth spot while it’s there for the taking. “We’ve held on to this spot since January,” Woodson said. “And I think it’s not only important for us to hold on to it, it’s very important for our fans. They deserve a chance to witness a home-court start to a series in the playoffs”