NBA: Hawks beat Heat to clinch playoff spot
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is defended by Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, April 12, 2014, in Atlanta. AP
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks clinched the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference Saturday as Jeff Teague scored 25 points in a 98-85 win over the defending champion Miami Heat.
Lou Williams scored 23 points for Atlanta who claimed the final playoff berth in their conference.
Atlanta had a 25-21 record on February 4 but went into a 6-20 tailspin before winning six of its last eight National Basketball Association games.
“It’s satisfying to get a win and be in a groove that we’re in,” Williams said.
The Hawks qualified for the postseason for a seventh straight season. They scored 29 points off 20 Miami turnovers.
Dwyane Wade scored 16 first-half points on a perfect seven-for-seven shooting. He finished with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting for the Heat, who are tied with the Indiana Pacers for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Wade missed his last nine games because of a hamstring injury.
LeBron James posted 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists in defeat.
The game was tied 49-49 at halftime and 51-51 before DeMarre Carroll capped a 7-1 surge with a three pointer from the left side for a 58-52 Hawks lead with 7:26 left in the third quarter.
Miami never got within four the rest of the game.
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