Sweep indeed: Hawks top Celts, take season series 4-0

By Bud L. Ellis

Two years ago, the Atlanta Hawks entered the NBA playoffs for the first time in a decade, the bottom seed in the Eastern Conference that was supposed to be a quick snack for the powerful Boston Celtics.

Atlanta grabbed the nation’s attention by pushing the eventual world champs to seven games in that opening-round series. Two years later, the seeds planted in those April days two springs ago have blossomed.

The Hawks are a legit championship contender. Just ask the Celtics, who were handed a season sweep by the Hawks on Friday night. In front of a rocking Philips Arena that gave the game a playoff feel, the Hawks raced to a big lead and survived a Boston surge in the second half for a 100-91 victory.

Atlanta finishes the season 4-0 against its green menace from Beantown, moving past Boston and into second place in the Eastern Conference. The win sets up an intriguing mid-season showdown with Orlando, which is fourth in the East and ½ game behind the Hawks in the Southeast Division, on Saturday night.

Jamal Crawford set the tone with a buzzer-beater from just inside halfcourt as the first quarter ended Friday, giving the Hawks a 23-22 lead. Atlanta pushed the advantage to 53-41 at the half, then weathered a Boston comeback that brought the visitors to within one point heading into the fourth quarter.

But the Hawks looked and played like a team all grown up in the final 12 minutes, outscoring the Celts 26-18 to salt away their 30th victory of the season and lock up their first season sweep of Boston since 1998-99.

Crawford scored 28. Joe Johnson added 27, 16 coming in the fourth quarter as he hit big shot after big shot. Josh Smith added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Al Horford scored 11 points with eight rebounds.

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Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 1:28 pm by bud

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, National Basketball Association, Orlando Magic, Philips Arena