Hawks Clinch Playoff Spot and Southeast Division With 124-102 Rout of Cavs

The Atlanta Hawks haven't won the Southeast Division since 2021, when they went on that magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals. On Friday night, they got it done again — clinching both a playoff berth and the division title with a dominant 124-102 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

CJ McCollum led the charge with 29 points, including six three-pointers that helped blow the game open in the third quarter. Dyson Daniels stuffed the stat sheet with his second career triple-double: 13 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 points, and Jalen Johnson chipped in 18 points and 9 rebounds before sitting out the final 10 minutes with the game well in hand.

After four straight years in the play-in tournament, Atlanta is back in the real playoffs. The Hawks had been on the fringes of contention all season, but this performance — a 22-point blowout of a good Cavaliers team — was a reminder that this group can play when it matters. They're not just making the playoffs. They earned their way in.