But that didn't scare off a depleted Atlanta Hawks team on the second game of a back-to-back. On the ensuing inbounds play, Irving was tied up, with the Hawks getting the jump and Millsap's connecting at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. That's how we've got to play.
- A worst-case scenario is still in play for the Celtics as well: If Boston loses its final two games and the Toronto Raptors win their final game against the Cavaliers, Toronto - which owns the tiebreaker against the Celtics as well - will slide past Boston into the No. 2 seed.
Boston (50-29) lost for the second straight night, severely damaging any chance it had to win the conference.
"We needed it tonight", said Kevin Love, alluding to the fact that a win would have put Cleveland in the driver's seat to rest its stars down the stretch while still clinching the No. 1 seed.
The Atlanta Hawks made a remarkable 26-point comeback to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-125 Sunday at Philips Arena. If we're able to do that, I feel like the game (against Atlanta) is going to be a lot different for us.
"But at the end of the day, we're hoping to look back and say that was a lesson for us and that we can't let that happen again".
John Wall added 24 points and eight assists for the Wizards, who blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter but recovered to improve to 48-31, tying Toronto for third place in the Eastern Conference.
The appeared to be dead in the water through three quarters as the Cavaliers bombed away with a barrage of three-point baskets.
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Celtics center Al Horford, who played in Atlanta from 2009-16, was beset with foul trouble and had only four points, five rebounds and three assists. "Ball movement, definitely ball movement", Millsap told reporters of the key to the scoring output. Both teams have two regular-season games remaining.
Through three quarters, the game was never in question for the Cavaliers.
FOX Sports Ohio will carry the game in the Greater Cleveland area.
Cleveland's bench was outscored 55-21, with former Cav Mike Dunleavy, traded for Kyle Korver at midseason, doing most of the damage as he scored 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting. The Atlanta Hawks has two wins out last three meeting against to Cavs in this National Basketball Association season.
It was a shocking letdown by the Cavs, who have dealt with injuries all season, but don't have any excuse for not giving it their all with so much at stake.
On the brink of quitting the Hawks have reminded everyone in the league that this is a force to be taken seriously, and what better way to show that than to stun the reigning conference champions twice in one week.
"The first half is about as good of a first half as we've had", Budenholzer said. "Sellout tonight, they've supported us all year".
Millsap hit all three from the line and on the Cavaliers next possession, Kent Bazemore tied up Kyrie Irving, forcing a jumpball on Atlanta's end with 4.8 to play. We have to be the people that initiate the fight. "We move on to the next one and try to get better from there".
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