Clippers at Hawks
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Clippers' chances at securing the
third seed in the Western Conference playoff race are hanging by a
thread as they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. The Clippers need
victories over the Hawks and New York Knicks, combined with a loss by
the rival Lakers against Sacramento, to leapfrog into third spot.
Atlanta is already locked into fifth place in the Eastern Conference,
one game behind the Boston Celtics in the race to determine which team
will have home-court advantage.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), SportSouth (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (40-24):
While Los Angeles may not be able to overtake Kobe Bryant and Co. for
the No. 3 seed, the Clippers aren't entirely secure in the fourth spot,
either. They need a win in either of their final two games to ensure
they'll open the playoffs at the Staples Center, with a first-round
meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies awaiting them. Two losses, combined
with two Memphis wins, would give the Grizzlies the edge. Point guard
Chris Paul helped keep the Clippers' Pacific Division title hopes intact
Sunday, scoring 33 points and adding 13 assists and eight steals in a
come-from-behind 107-98 victory over New Orleans.
ABOUT THE HAWKS (38-26):
Atlanta is enjoying a strong finish to the season, going 7-3 in its
last 10 games. Two of those losses have come by two points or less - an
88-86 defeat in Boston on April 11 and a heart-wrenching 113-112 defeat
against New York on Sunday. The back-and-forth affair left team scoring
leader Joe Johnson with a decidedly bad taste in his mouth. "It's
frustrating that we're still playing for something and defensively we
were non-existent," he said. ''There was no help (on defense). If you
were guarding somebody 1-on-1, you were definitely guarding 1-on-1."
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Paul went 17 for 19 from the free-throw line against the Hornets, setting career highs in both makes and attempts.
2. The Clippers prevailed 96-82 in their previous meeting March 14.