Hawks beat Celtics again in Atlanta, 103-100; force Game 7

[May 03, 2008]  ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Hawks just won't let go of their first trip to the postseason in nine years. The playoff team with the worst record did it again to the team with the best mark, forcing an improbable Game 7 with the Boston Celtics, as Joe Johnson hit a crucial 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining and the Hawks held on for a 103-100 victory Friday night.

The Hawks, just 37-45 during the regular season, have now beaten the Celtics three times in the space of a week to set up a deciding game in a series that was supposed to be a sweep. After all, Boston went an NBA-leading 66-16 and defeated Atlanta in all three meetings before the playoffs.

But, against all odds, the Hawks are heading to Boston for Game 7 on Sunday.

"Seven! Seven! Seven!" chanted the record crowd of 20,425 at Philips Arena.

The Celtics are still the favorite, having won all three games on their home court in the series by an average of 22 points. But the Hawks have lasted longer than anyone would have expected.

Marvin Williams led the Hawks with 18 points despite missing much of the fourth quarter with a sprained left knee. Kevin Garnett had 22 for the Celtics and Ray Allen added 20, but Paul Pierce - the other member of Boston's Big Three - fouled out on a disputed call in the fourth quarter.

The Celtics had a chance after pounding the boards for five chances on one possession before Kendrick Perkins was fouled by Al Horford. Perkins made both free throws with 1:32 left to pull Boston within 97-95.

Johnson, who went to the final period with just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, came alive in the fourth. He saved his biggest shot for the end, getting James Posey in the air with a pump fake before hitting Atlanta's only 3-pointer of the game to make it 100-95.

Pierce sat on the bench with a towel over his head, unable to watch.

Posey got Johnson back by hitting a tough 3 from the wing with 48 seconds left, and the Celtics had a chance when Johnson missed a runner in the lane.

Wanting to finish off the pesky Hawks, the Celtics drew up a play to give Allen a look from beyond the arc. He missed, though; Johnson grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit two free throws with 10.6 seconds left.

After a quick basket by Garnett, Mike Bibby made only one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds to go, giving the Celtics a shot at forcing overtime. But the Hawks kept the ball from Allen and Posey, forcing Rajon Rondo to launch a long 3 that didn't even hit the rim as the horn sounded.

For the third time in the series, streamers poured from the Philips Arena rafters. Zaza Pachulia, who played a key role off the bench, grabbed a microphone to salute the joyous crowd.

"We're going to Game 7! Woooooooooo!" he screamed.

After the Hawks scored the first basket, Boston led until early in the fourth. The Celtics were up by 12 in the second and nine in the third, looking to finally put away Atlanta.

But, as they did twice in Game 4 on their home court, the Hawks refused to fold.

They finally reclaimed the lead with just over 11 minutes remaining, when Williams soared for the rebound of Bibby's missed 3 and laid it in to put the Hawks ahead 83-82.

From there, the teams went back and forth until a crucial play knocked out Pierce and gave the Hawks some breathing room.

Josh Childress scored on a brilliant slashing move off the baseline, holding the ball high above the hoop before he dropped it in with 4:44 left. Pierce was called for his sixth foul away from the play fighting for rebounding position with Pachulia. The Boston star was livid over the call, ripping off his trademark headband and standing under the basket in disbelief.

The officials called a technical on Pierce while "Hit The Road Jack" blared throughout the arena. Johnson made the free throw, giving the Hawks a 96-89 lead.

Williams twisted his knee awkwardly trying to guard Pierce on a drive through the lane early in the fourth. The Hawks initially announced the third-year forward would not return, but he checked in to play defense with 20 seconds to go, still hobbling.

All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures. Besides Williams' 18, Bibby had 17, rookie Al Horford 16, Johnson 15, and Josh Smith - who played less than 30 minutes because of foul trouble - finished with 11. Off the bench, Childress had 15 points and six rebounds, while Pachulia contributed nine points and six rebounds.

Notes:@ Rondo played with a scrape on his right (shooting) hand. He sustained it in Game 5 going for a loose ball with Bibby. ... While the crowd was the largest for an NBA game at Philips Arena, it was far from the biggest in team history. Amazingly for a team never known for its crowd support, the Hawks hold the league record of 62,046 for a 1998 game at the Georgia Dome against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. ... Hawks coach Mike Woodson picked up a technical early in the third for arguing a call.

[Associated Press; By PAUL NEWBERRY]

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