Hawks 114 Knicks 109

Boxscore

Gameflow

That was a weird final 1:37. First, Mike Woodson treats a ten point lead like it's secure rather than comfortable and pulls Joe Johnson for Mario West. Then the Knicks show little interest in trying to win the game for a full minute of game time. (Did they former Indiana teammates have a deal in place? That would necessitate clever planning by Mike Woodson and Isiah Thomas so probably not.) Down seven with 36 seconds left New York begins to try to extend the game, Mario West provides more evidence (one layup conceded, two fouls giving New York and-ones, and one-of-two from the free throw line) that he shouldn't be on the floor when the margin of a game is anywhere between 0 and 20, New York pulls within four, Joe Johnson comes back in for nine seconds, and the Hawks hold on to win.

Other than that, it was a fairly dull game (at least when watched following the stressful Kansas-Davidson game). We learned that Marvin Williams, even in the midst of a two month long slump, is an excellent basketball player against the New York Knicks (52 points and 19 rebounds while shooting 65.7% from the floor in the two games against the Knicks this month while, impolitely, doing fuck all against everyone else.) We also learned that Jamal Crawford can make essentially an infinite number of three-pointers before the Hawks would attempt to go over the ball screen. He made seven of ten and (usually Mike Bibby) went under the screen every time.

The concept of infinity might be relevant again tonight as in, "Mike Conley is infinitely quicker than Mike Bibby." I presume the Hawks will have to outscore another poor team to inch closer to clinching their opportunity to lose in the first round of the playoffs. Current odds: 75.8%. Estimated wins needed: 36. Level of excitement: roughly nil.