NBA ROUNDUP Saturday’s games

Celtics 99, Hawks 89

ATLANTA — Sam Cassell and Boston’s backups outplayed Atlanta’s starters in the fourth quarter, and the Celtics prevented the Hawks from clinching their first playoff berth since 1999.

Atlanta would have ended the NBA’s longest playoff drought with a victory, because Indiana lost to Charlotte earlier Saturday. The Hawks remained two games ahead of the Pacers with two to play, lowering their magic number to one for the right to face the Celtics in a first-round series.

Kevin Garnett sat out the fourth quarter but led Boston with 24 points. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen both had 14.

Joe Johnson scored 21, and Josh Smith and Al Horford both had 17 for Atlanta. Mike Bibby added 16.

Bobcats 107, Pacers 103

INDIANAPOLIS — Jason Richardson scored 26 points, and Charlotte dealt a severe blow to Indiana’s playoff hopes.

The Pacers entered the night two games behind Atlanta with three games to play. With the loss and Atlanta’s loss to Boston, the Pacers need to win their last two and have the Hawks lose their final two to get into the playoffs.

Indiana’s Danny Granger scored a career-high 37 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter while playing with five fouls. Mike Dunleavy added 22 points and seven assists for Indiana, which saw its winning streak end at four games.

Nazr Mohammed had 16 points and 13 rebounds, Emeka Okafor had 14 points and 18 rebounds, and rookie Jared Dudley scored a career-high 19 points for the Bobcats, who outrebounded the Pacers 59-46.

Wizards 109, 76ers 93

WASHINGTON — Gilbert Arenas scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, when Washington outscored Philadelphia 31-9.

The victory means the Wizards can finish no worse than sixth in the Eastern Conference, and that they can’t be caught by the 76ers. Washington leads Philadelphia by two games with two to play and owns the tiebreaker due to a better conference record.

Antawn Jamison added 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards, who have won four of five. Washington bounced back well from a 102-74 loss at Detroit on Friday night.

Andre Iguodala had 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead the 76ers, who have lost three of four. Philadelphia had a 28-6 advantage in fast-break points but was outrebounded 48-36.

Associated Press