(SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Hawks continue their march into the postseason on Tuesday night when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to Philips Arena.
The Hawks sewed up homecourt advantage in the Eastern Conference a while back, but the plan now is gather some momentum for the playoffs, as well as to get guys healthy.
All-Star forward Paul Millsap will miss Tuesday's game with a sprained right shoulder. An X-ray was negative and an MRI exam revealed the injury, so Millsap will sit Tuesday and Wednesday versus the Brooklyn Nets.
On Saturday, the Hawks handed those same Nets a 131-99 drubbing in Atlanta.
DeMarre Carroll had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Al Horford also netted 20 points and Jeff Teague added 17 and eight assists for the Hawks.
"We came in with the mindset of really getting ready for the playoffs," said Carroll. "Coach just stressed the importance of these games leading into the playoffs."
Horford netted eight quick points as the Hawks raced out to a 10-2 start. They never looked back. Atlanta began the second on an extended 27-11 run to turn the game into a laugher.
Mike Scott returned for the Hawks after missing the last 10 games due to a left toe injury. Dennis Schroder is listed as probable with a sprained toe.
The Suns are still alive in the race for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. They trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by three games with just five to play. The New Orleans Pelicans are ahead of Phoenix, just a half- game behind OKC.
The Suns snapped a five-game losing skid on Saturday with an 87-85 home victory over the Utah Jazz.
Gerald Green led the way with 24 points off the bench as the Suns held off the Jazz. Eric Bledsoe scored 16 points, Brandan Wright netted 14 and Markieff Morris supplied 10 points and seven rebounds for the Suns.
"It was kind of a strange game," Phoenix head coach Jeff Hornacek said. "I think it's just a matter of blocking and doing everything right."
Phoenix led 86-85 when Bledsoe stole the ball from Dante Exum following a Morris miss and then missed his own jumper coming out of a timeout.
Gordon Hayward then failed to connect on a stepback jumper with 18.9 seconds to go. Bledsoe split a pair of free throws two seconds later, with Rudy Gobert pulling down the rebound.
Coming out of a timeout, Joe Ingles drove in but his shot was off the mark. Rodney Hood retrieved the long rebound, but his shot was off the mark and Phoenix held on for the win.
The Suns will continue to be without Brandon Knight, Alex Len and Marcus Thornton.
The Suns begin a brutal four-game road trip on Tuesday with stops in Dallas, New Orleans and San Antonio on the horizon.
The Hawks beat the Suns in Phoenix on March 13 to end a two-game series losing streak. The Suns have won three of their last four in Atlanta.
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