Hawks Clinch Playoff Spot With Dominant Win Over Cavaliers

The Atlanta Hawks are officially playoff-bound. CJ McCollum turned back the clock with 29 points in just 24 minutes, hitting six three-pointers as Atlanta blew out the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-102 at State Farm Arena on Friday night. Dyson Daniels added a triple-double — 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists — as the Hawks clinched the Southeast Division title for the first time since 2020-21.

This is the end of a three-year postseason drought for Atlanta. By locking in a top-six seed, the Hawks bypass the Play-In Tournament entirely — no do-or-die games, straight to the real thing. McCollum, acquired to be exactly this kind of steadying force, delivered one of his most efficient games of the season when it mattered most.

Cleveland, already locked into the 4-seed, rested key players and never threatened. But for Atlanta, this was about more than the final score — it was about the franchise turning a corner. The Hawks have won 46 games this season and now enter the playoffs with genuine momentum.