Projo Sports Blog

ATLANTA (AP) - For the first time since 1999, the Atlanta Hawks are headed to the NBA playoffs.

The Hawks clinched the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference when the Indiana Pacers, the only other team with a mathematical chance, lost at Washington 117-110 Monday night. The league's longest playoff drought ended with Atlanta enjoying an off day.

"It's huge for our franchise, when you talk about a young team coming together," fourth-year coach Mike Woodson said. "It's huge for the guys that have put in their time and worked hard. We've worked hard to overcome some things as a unit to get this team where it needs to be."

Atlanta's last playoff appearance came during the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, when the team finished second in the Central Division with a lineup that featured Dikembe Mutombo, Mookie Blaylock and Steve Smith. The Hawks defeated Detroit in the opening round, but were swept in four straight games by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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