ATLANTA — Forward Paul Millsap had 26 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Hawks enhance their playoff hopes with a 123-116 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday at Philips Arena.
It was the 19th double-double of the season for Millsap, who played his second game after missing eight with left knee synovitis. Millsap was 8 of 15 from the field, 9 of 12 from the line and added four assists in 29 minutes.
The win moved Atlanta (40-38) a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. A loss would have dropped the Hawks only one game above the playoff line.