Atlanta, GA – Joe Johnson had 30 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Josh Smith added his 27th double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 boards as the Atlanta Hawks handled the Boston Celtics, 97-92, on Friday.
Kirk Hinrich, Jason Collins and Willie Green tallied eight points apiece for Atlanta, which has won seven of its last nine games.
The Hawks have a 1 1/2 game lead over fourth-seeded Boston for home-court advantage in a possible Eastern Conference first-round matchup.
Avery Bradley had career-high 28 points for Boston, which was without Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
Pierce and Garnett did not dress, while Rondo was not with the team to rest his injured back.
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