National Basketball Association

Hawks haven't clinched playoff berth yet

Published Mar. 22, 2010 9:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Atlanta Hawks' countdown to clinching a playoff spot is back on - at least for one more night.

The Hawks believed they clinched a playoff spot with their 119-114 overtime win over San Antonio on Sunday night. Instead, there is a slight possibility the Hawks, now tied with Boston for third place in the Eastern Conference, could finish in a four-way tie for the last playoff spot and lose the conference tiebreaker.

The Hawks (45-24) play at Milwaukee Monday night and need to win only one of their final 13 games, or a Chicago loss, to clinch their third straight playoff berth. Houston plays at Chicago Monday night.

Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche says the Elias Sports Bureau contacted the NBA on Monday and explained the improbable possibility of a four-way tie with Chicago, Charlotte and Miami. Triche said the team was told Saturday it only needed to beat the Spurs to clinch the playoff berth.

In the unlikely four-way tie with Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte and Miami, the teams would be 6-6 in the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Hawks would lose the next tiebreaker, the conference tiebreaker.

The Hawks begin Monday night's schedule 13 games ahead of the ninth-place Bulls.

Atlanta ended a nine-year playoff drought by pushing the Celtics to seven games in the first round of the 2008 playoffs. The Hawks advanced to the second round last season before being swept by Cleveland.

The team's focus this season has been on winning the Southeast Division and moving higher in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks trail first-place Orlando by 3 1/2 games in the division.

Hawks scoring leader Joe Johnson said Sunday night just reaching the playoffs is not enough because the team is trying to advance deeper in the playoffs.

``We still have a lot of work ahead of us,'' Johnson said.