Atlanta on verge of playoffs

In control of their fate, the Hawks headed home for a game that could serve as both a potential postseason clincher and a possible playoff preview.

Yes, the NBA's longest postseason drought could end today.

Joe Johnson kept the Hawks in control of the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, scoring 34 points Friday night in a 116-104 victory over the New York Knicks in New York.

Trying to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999, the Hawks remained 2 games ahead of the Indiana Pacers with three to play for each team.

Johnson, along with Mike Bibby the only Hawks players with playoff experience from when he played for Phoenix, said the postseason is on his mind.

"It definitely wanders with me. I can only imagine how Philips Arena would be rocking if we were to make the playoffs," he said. "Those are the type of imaginations that I have and hopefully if we everybody stays on the same page we can make that happen."

Pacers 85, Sixers 76: Danny Granger had 30 points and 12 rebounds and visiting Indiana won its fourth straight.

Raptors 113, Nets 85: Carlos Delfino scored 24 points, Chris Bosh had 21 and host Toronto eliminated New Jersey from playoff contention.

Rockets 101, Suns 90: Tracy McGrady had 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, and Luis Scola added 19 points as the Rockets moved 1½ games ahead of visiting Phoenix and kept pace with San Antonio in the Western Conference playoff race.

In other games Jason Maxiell scored a career-high 28 points, Chauncey Billups added 13 and host Detroit rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 102-74 rout of Washington. The loss cost the Wizards a chance to better their playoff position, as both Cleveland and Philadelphia also lost. … Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 10 assists, then joined the rest of the Boston starters on the bench for the fourth quarter as the host Celtics coasted to a 102-86 victory over Milwaukee.

• See NBA scoreboard, Page 6.