Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks still have plenty to fight for as the regular season draws to a close and the postseason approaches. They face their first clinching scenario on Thursday in their road date against the division rival Miami Heat.
Atlanta sits as the No. 7 seed entering play on March 27.
However, with a win over the Heat – who enter the contest on a two-game winning streak but are 2-8 in their last 10 games – the Hawks can clinch a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
The Hawks are 10 games ahead of the Raptors, the current No. 11 seed, and they have 10 games to go compared to nine for Toronto. Another win puts the Hawks out of harm’s way of falling out of contention.
It was already highly unlikely the Hawks would miss at least the Play-In, but not impossible.
They would need to lose all 10 of their remaining games for that to happen, and they have been one of the hottest teams over their last 10 with a 7-3 mark.
However, they have been beset by significant injuries and lost the regular-season series against the Raptors, which would give Toronto the tiebreaker if such a scenario arose. After a season such as this, surely the ability to clinch anything to do with the postseason is welcomed.
It could be the kind of boost the team can use to propel them emotionally down the stretch of the regular season ahead of what could be a pivotal offseason.
The Raptors will remain in contention for the Play-In regardless of tonight’s Hawks outcome.
The Hawks can still climb as high as the No. 3 seed, though that would require slides by the New York Knicks – the current slot holder – Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks. Detroit and Milwaukee could be more reasonable targets to hawk down.
That would allow them to at least get out of the Play-In Tournament and directly into the playoffs rather than needing one or possibly two wins before qualifying.
Hawks fans should root for Anthony Davis as Hawks visit Heat
The Hawks can get a big boost toward another clinching scenario as the Orlando Magic host the Dallas Mavericks. Orlando is 6-4 in their last 10 but has won three straight. Dallas is 3-7 and lost their last outing.
But the Mavs did get All-Star big man Anthony Davis back recently. He should at least help them keep the game competitive into the late stages, though Dallas is on a four-game road trip.
That is if he plays.
Davis is listed as questionable with an adductor injury that cost him 26 of the last 28 games he could have played in. He has played in two games for the Mavericks since his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers before the 2025 deadline.
The Mavericks are 2-0 when Davis plays. The Hawks need Davis to play – and well – against the Magic.
Atlanta and Orlando still have two games left to play with each team hosting the other once.
Hawks fans could also root for the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Chicago Bulls, though with LA’s 2025 first-round pick incoming, it would be understandable to go the other way. The Washington Wizards are hosting the Pacers but also have the worst record in the East.