ALL-STAR BREAK WINS
On the eve of the NBA hiatus, the Hawks are a win away from joining four teams that have won 44 games prior to the All-Star break. The Hawks have 43 wins headed into Wednesday’s game at the Celtics:
2010-11 Spurs/46-10/.821/Lost in first round to Grizzlies
1980-81 76ers/44-10/.815/Lost in conference finals to Celtics
2006-07 Mavericks/44-9/.830/Lost in first round to Warriors
2008-09 Celtics/44-11/.800/Lost in conference semifinals to Magic
The Hawks are one game away from the All-Star break – and one win away from a single-digit magic number to clinch a playoff berth.
It’s another reality in this Hawks’ dream season.
The Hawks magic number to clinch their eighth straight postseason berth is 10 before Wednesday’s game against at the Celtics. The Eastern Conference-leading Hawks (43-10) are 21 games ahead of the ninth-place Nets (21-30). The Nets can win a maximum of 52 games, 10 less than the Hawks currently have with the tie-breaker between the teams undecided. Any combination of Hawks wins and Nets losses totaling 10 will send the Hawks to the playoffs and extended the conference’s longest active postseason streak.
The Hawks conclude their season series with the Celtics Wednesday, a team they have already beaten twice.
The Hawks’ magic number to clinch with Southeast Division is 19 over the Wizards and to clinch the No. 1 seed in the East is 23 over the Raptors.
The Hawks have already set a franchise record for most wins before the All-Star break. They are one win away tying for the second-most wins prior to the break in NBA history. A win over the Celtics, and 44 pre-All-Star break victories, would tie for second-most in NBA history with the 1980-81 76ers, 2006-07 Mavericks and 2008-09 Celtics. The record is 46 wins set by the 2010-11 Spurs.
“(Atlanta) can suck energy out of you the way they play,” Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said after the Hawks’ 117-105 victory Monday in Minnesota. “There’s a reason they’ve got three all-stars. There’s a reason they’ve got the best record in the league and have won 43 games. This is a team that’s been together for a while, they know how to play and every time that you gamble or make a mistake they make you pay for it.”
The Hawks’ win came one night after a 94-88 loss at the Grizzlies Sunday. In that game, Al Horford and Paul Millsap combined for 10 points on 4 of 21 shooting. It was a much different story for the Hawks big men against the Timberwolves. The All-Stars combined for 47 points on 19 of 31 shooting. DeMarre Carroll added a career-high 26 points in the win as the Hawks avoided a two-game losing streak, something they have done only twice this season.
“It’s an important game, back to back, we’re on the road,” Horford said. “It was key for us to come out with a sense of urgency and put up a good showing. I felt like we played our style of basketball and got the win, which is most important.”
Following Wednesday’s game against the Celtics, some of the Hawks will be off for the All-Star break. Jeff Teague will join Horford and Millsap as All-Star Game participants and be coached by Mike Budenholzer and his staff Sunday. In addition, Kyle Korver will compete in the 3-point Contest and Dennis Schroder will play in the Rising Stars Challenge, both Saturday.
Following the break, the Hawks host the Raptors on Feb. 20.
