WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards are inching closer to their first playoff spot since 2008 and can earn a post-season berth Sunday if the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks. Air Max 97 Plus Shock Orange . After the Wizards sloppy 101-97 win over the free-falling Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night, they insisted theyre not looking ahead -- at least not publicly. "If the Knicks lose, Ill be more excited. Id know Id be playing in the playoffs," John Wall said. Wall scored 25 points and Drew Gooden added 16 for Washington, which is sixth in the Eastern Conference. Wall scored 13 points in the last 7:16 of the third quarter and the Wizards finally escaped the pesky Hawks, who have lost six straight and 20 of 26. Jeff Teague scored 19 points and Paul Millsap 17 for Atlanta. Washington had to overcome a slow start coming off its impressive 13-point win over Eastern Conference leader Indiana on Friday to beat the Hawks, who lead the Knicks by 1 1/2 games for the final playoff berth in the East. They also had to deal with the effects of a Saturday afternoon hockey game at the Verizon Center. Because of the Washington Capitals game with the Boston Bruins, the starting time of the Wizards game was pushed back an hour. The changeover left the floor slippery and may have caused a groin injury to Washington forward Trevor Ariza. "Good thing nobody got seriously injured, but we got to work on that. Somebody couldve really got hurt. We got to keep ourselves safe," Ariza said. "I tried to play the game as fast as I can all the time, but after I fell and slipped, I slowed down for sure." He finished with 13 points. Bradley Beal had 14. "That floor was awful tonight. I apologize for that," coach Randy Wittman said. Washington led 99-89 with 2:38 to play, but the Hawks scored eight straight including three free throws by Lou Williams and a three-point play by Teague with 39.8 to play. Teagues three points came immediately after Wall missed two foul shots. With the Wizards leading 99-97, Marcin Gortat blocked Teagues shot with 11.1 seconds left. Gooden was fouled by Teague and hit two free throws to secure the win. "We call this fatigue. We call this fatigue and too relaxed. Im glad we won that game. Otherwise, Id probably shoot myself at home," Gortat said. He had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Wittman wasnt pleased with how his team closed out the game. "Disappointed in that, but theres not a bad win in this league. Well take the win," Wittman said. Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer, whose team played well despite missing three of its five leading scorers, had been hoping for a comeback. "Its amazing how long an NBA game is and what can happen in the last two minutes," Budenholzer said. The game was interrupted countless times by the condensation, which seemed to bother Wizards players more than Hawks. It was reminiscent of a Jan. 11 game that featured two lengthy stoppages when a heavy rainstorm hit the area and delayed Washingtons game with Houston. The Hawks started hot, hitting seven of their first eight shots and running out to a 21-11 advantage, but Washington got eight late points from Gooden, outscoring the Hawks 16-7 in the last 4:31 to lead 28-27 after one. Thanks to nine points in the last five minutes by Pero Antic, Atlanta led 52-50 at halftime. Walls third-quarter offensive display gave the Wizards a 75-71 lead after going into the fourth. NOTES: Washington F/C Nene, who has missed 17 games with a left knee sprain is progressing, though Wittman isnt guessing when he may return. "Hes going on the floor a little bit, on his own, just kind of getting on his legs a little bit," Wittman said. "Where that takes us I dont know. Hes going in a good direction." ... Atlanta was without G/F Kyle Korver (back spasms) and G DeMarre Carroll (stomach virus). ... Wizards G Andre Miller was called for a flagrant foul on Hawks G Dennis Schroder in the fourth quarter, but Schroder missed both foul shots. Air Max 97 Argento . Mike Vecchione tied it at 2 with 4:01 left in the first, Saskatoon native Eli Lichtenwald gave the Dutchman the lead 57 seconds later, and Daniel Ciampini capped the spree with 2:57 to go. Air Max 97 Just Do It Outlet . -- Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson is being checked for a possible concussion after blowing a tire on his way to the first workout of spring training.PHOENIX -- The San Francisco Giants were kicking the ball around so badly Monday night that manager Bruce Bochy wanted to start spring training over again. Then the Giants bats came alive, Arizonas bullpen wilted, and San Francisco rallied from four runs down to beat the Diamondbacks 9-8 on Buster Poseys two-run home run off new closer Addison Reed in the ninth inning. "I think we want to be a team that keeps grinding and keeps pushing," Posey said. "It was nice to be able to do that tonight right out of the chute to give us that confidence that when we get down we know we have the ability to come back." Poseys star turn didnt surprise Giants starter Madison Bumgarner, who left after giving up four unearned runs in four innings. "Hes on a different level, man," Bumgarner said. "Hes so good and hes been that good since day one. Its fun to watch him play every day." Posey had no experience against Reed, who came to the Diamondbacks in an off-season trade from the Chicago White Sox. "Ive never faced him before, spring training or anything," Posey said. "I was really just trying to get a pitch I can handle." He got it on a fastball that he sent over the left field wall. "For us to come back and win a game like that, it just shows you, you go hard for nine innings ," Bochy said. "These guys did and got some big hits later in the game. It seemed like it got contagious, then Buster came through for us in a big way. It was the season opener for San Francisco and the first true home game for the Diamondbacks, who started the season with two losses as the home team against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Australia. Miguel Montero, who had three hits and reached base five times, homered to lead off the Arizona ninth and make it a one-run game. Brandon Belt had three hits, including a solo home run, and singled ahead of Poseys homer. Arizona scored four unearned runs off Bumgarner in the fourth and led 7-3 after six. San Francisco got four runs with two outs in the seventh, with reliever Brad Ziegler walking in the tying run. Jean Machi (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings of relief to get the victory. Nike Air Max 1/97 Sean Wotherspoon. . Reed (0-1), acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the off-season, got the loss. Sergio Romo, who gave up the home run to Montero, earned the save. After Monteros shot to left, Chris Owings reached on a bunt single and was sacrificed to second by Gerardo Parra. Pinch-hitter Eric Chavez struck out and A.J. Pollock, who has started the season 0 for 13, popped out to end it. Pollock was 0 for 6 with four strikeouts. In the Giants big seventh, pinch-hitter Ehire Adrianza doubled in a run, ending Arizona starter Brandon McCarthys night. McCarthy was livid about home plate umpire Tom Hallions call of a ball on a 2-2 pitch just before the double. "There was a call in the seventh that changed the entire outlook of the game," McCarthy said. "We all have to execute after that point but ... it kind of leaves a bitter taste." Oliver Perez came in and gave up three hits without an out, including an RBI double by Angel Pagans RBI double and Pablo Sandovals run-scoring single. Ziegler relieved Perez and gave up a single to Posey to load the bases, then walked Hunter Pence for the tying run. Arizonas four-run fourth inning opened with a fielding error by second baseman Joaquin Arias on Mark Trumbos groundball. Montero hit a bouncer to the third baseman Sandoval, who bobbled it just long enough for Trumbo to make it to second. The Diamondbacks greeted reliever Yusmeiro Petit with four consecutive hits in the fifth, including a leadoff double by Martin Prado, followed by Trumbos RBI single. Parra got his third RBI of the night with a ground out and Arizona led 6-2. The Diamondbacks got their seventh run after the Giants botched a rundown play between first and second. NOTES: Arizonas Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to 22 games, dating to last season. ... McCarthy struck out the side in the first. He did that once last season, April 16 against the Yankees. ... The Giants opened on the road for the fifth straight year. ... On Tuesday night, Wade Miley (0-1) pitches for Arizona, Matt Cain goes for the San Francisco. ' ' '
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