Atlanta Hawks Already in Playoffs, but Brooklyn Nets Game Still has Future Stakes on Line

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks will play the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night with more on the line than they think. Although the Atlanta Hawks have already clinched a playoff spot and the first overall seed in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks have a chance to hurt Brooklyn’s chances of making the playoffs.

The significance of that is that the Atlanta Hawks own the right to swap first round pick with the Nets via the Joe Johnson trade in 2012. If the Nets fall out of the playoff picture, the Hawks would be guaranteed a lottery pick (meaning a top 14 pick).

The Hawks rolled past the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night 96-69. Atlanta also beat Brooklyn Saturday 131-99 in Atlanta.

The Hawks will be in Brooklyn Wednesday night for a 7:30pm tip-off.