Hawks vs. Cavs Is a First-Round Preview With Clinching Stakes

Wednesday night's Hawks-Cavaliers matchup has playoff implications on both sides. Atlanta (45-34, 5th seed) can clinch a guaranteed playoff spot and the Southeast Division title with a win. Cleveland (50-29, 4th seed) needs to keep winning with the Rockets now tied with them at 50-29.

The Hawks are coming off a tough 108-105 loss to the Knicks, while Cleveland demolished the Grizzlies 142-126. If these two meet in the first round, it would be a fascinating matchup — Cleveland's James Harden acquisition at the trade deadline gave them a second star playmaker alongside Donovan Mitchell, while Atlanta's young core has been one of the surprise stories of the season.

This is the kind of late-season game that tells you everything about a team's playoff readiness. Win or lose, both teams are locked into the postseason picture. But seeding matters, and neither team can afford to coast with 3 games left.