Atllanta Hawks

Hawks qualify for NBA playoffs, will take part in play-in games

By WSBTV.com News Staff
Trae Young ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 14: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Josh Hart #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at State Farm Arena on March 14, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
By WSBTV.com News Staff

ATLANTA — The 2021-22 Atlanta Hawks will make it to a version of the NBA playoffs this season. However, they will not be making it in the way many expected them to before the season started.

The Hawks will take part in a new “Play-in” tournament which means they’ll need to win two games before qualifying for the actual playoffs.

Please allow us to explain.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Under the new system, the teams with the 7th through 10th best records in each NBA division will take part in the play-in tournament. The 7th place team plays the 10th place and 8 vs. 9 will be the other game. The two winners will then square off for the right to participate in the full playoff.

Heading into Sunday, the last day of the regular season, the Hawks have a 42-39 record, tied with the Charlotte Hornets. If both teams win, the Hawks would be the 9th seed because of their head-to-head record with the Hornets. Atlanta is in Houston Sunday afternoon to play the Rockets.

Both Atlanta and Charlotte enter their final game of the season one game behind Brooklyn and Cleveland.

With the Hawks beating Houston 130-114 on Sunday, they finish the regular season with a 43-39 record. They’ll play the Charlotte Hornets. The game will be played in Atlanta on Wednesday, April 13.

RELEATED STORIES:

The Hawks have struggled with their consistency during this season and enter the NBA’s post season with far less momentum then they did last year when they made it to the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA Champion Bucks.

Trey Young has been exceptional for Atlanta this season, averaging 28.4 points, 9.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. The rest of the team has had their struggles and Forward John Collins has been out for most of the past month with both finger and foot injuries.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Opening Day is back as the World Series Champion Atlanta Braves hosted the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park After last season’s World Series Championship win, Braves fans couldn’t wait to get into the ballpark.

©2022 Cox Media Group

0

Most Read