Williams Returns, Hawks Beat Pacers

ATLANTA (AP) - Josh Smith scored 30 points and Joe Johnson had
24 to help the Atlanta Hawks clinch the fourth spot in the Eastern
Conference with a 122-118 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday
night.
    Al Horford finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds as the Hawks
earned home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Atlanta needed either a win or a loss by Miami, which fell by seven
in Boston, to wrap up the No. 4 spot.
    Indiana, which had won two straight and four of five, was
eliminated from playoff contention.
    The Hawks won their third straight, all against sub-.500 teams,
and are assured of home-court advantage in the first round of the
playoffs for the first time since winning a best-of-five series
against Detroit in 1999.