WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards are inching closer to their first playoff spot since 2008 and can earn a post-season berth

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. Adidas NMD Mens Discount . 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. Fake NMD R2 . - Henrik Samuelsson and Curtis Lazar each had two goals and two assists as the Edmonton Oil Kings secured top spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the host Red Deer Rebels 7-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. New Adidas NMD 2019 . Dont miss a single shot, live on TSN beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Winners of their last eight games, the Heat return to Toronto for the second time in the month of November. After beginning the season 4-3, allowing 100.9 points on 47 per cent shooting, Miamis resurgent defence has vaulted them back to the top of a weak Eastern Conference. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/adidas-nmd-mens-clearance.html . -- Thirty years ago, the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime, a game that remains the highest scoring in NBA history.MILWAUKEE -- A short jumper off the glass. A stutter-step shot that drew a foul. An easy layup after a teammate sealed off a defender in the middle. After a bruising tussle with Marquette in the first half, Shannon Scott helped energize No. 10 Ohio State early in the second half for a big win on the road. Scott scored 13 points, including the three buckets during the 12-4 run after halftime, and the Buckeyes pulled away for a 52-35 win Saturday over the cold-shooting, 17th-ranked Golden Eagles. Sam Thompson also scored 13, while Aaron Craft added 10 points and 10 assists for the Buckeyes (3-0), who ended Marquettes 27-game home winning streak, second-longest in the nation. It was the schools first loss at home since Vanderbilt beat the Golden Eagles 74-57 on Dec. 29, 2011. Only South Dakota State (30) had a longer winning streak in the country entering Saturday. Didnt look like they could pull it off after shooting just 27 per cent in the first half. But things opened up after halftime, when coach Thad Mattas team was 15 of 26 from the field (58 per cent). "Eventually, its got to go in the basket," Matta said in recounting a halftime talk. "Fortunately we had that run. It was the difference in the game." Scott, Craft and Thompson were the sparks, while Marquette (2-1) came out flat in the second half in front of a full house of 18,700 friendly fans in the BMO Harris Bradley Center. "As I told our guys, I dont feel sorry for us at all. They beat us," coach Buzz Williams said. "They beat us straight up. They beat us at home before a sellout crowd." It certainly didnt help that the Golden Eagles had 20 turnovers and shot just 10 of 53 (19 per cent) for the game, including 4 of 24 (17 per cent) in the second half. Tied at 19 at halftime, the game opened up with Ohio State going on the run and finding room to manoeuvr inside. Centre Amir Williams started the spurt by muscling out Chris Otule in the post for a basket. Then Williams sealed off Otule in the lane to allow Scott to go in for an uncontested layup. After forcing a steal of Jake Thomas,, Scott sped down the court and drew a foul on Thomas on the stutter-step jumper. Adidas NMD R2 Sale. Lenzelle Smith Jr. lowered his head driving the baseline and flipped up a tough shot around Marquettes big men for a 31-23 lead with 16:21 left. "Defensively, we just didnt get back in transition, and from that point on they had the advantage," point guard Derrick Wilson said. Coach Williams called a timeout that briefly settled his team before the Buckeyes pulled away again. Ohio State had just three turnovers in the second half to 10 for the Golden Eagles, who are breaking in a new backcourt with last years starting trio of Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Trent Lockett all gone. Wilson is the new starter at the point. Todd Mayo, helping to fill the minutes left by Blues departure at shooting guard, led the Golden Eagles with 11 points. Whatever the reason, Ohio State found its rhythm on the fastbreak, with a 16-0 edge, including 12-0 in the second half. "The biggest thing we wanted to do was get out in transition," Craft said. "If we could get rebounds and run, we could get lay-ups before they could set up. And thats what we wanted to do." It was another momentous day in Crafts career after he eclipsed 1,000 career points, to become the first player in team history to have that many points along with 500 assists and 200 steals. The bruising first half featured tussles under the bucket, plenty of rebounds and lots of missed shots. The teams combined to shoot 13 of 55 in a half that ended in a 19-all tie on Buckeye forward Marc Lovings 3 from the corner with 7 seconds left. The Golden Eagles had briefly taken control with an 8-0 midway for an 18-14 lead with 4:47 left through the half by making tough shots in the lane, mainly with Amir Williams on the bench. Marquette managed to outrebound Ohio State 50-34. Davante Gardner had 10 points and six rebounds. The teams were scheduled to meet last year in the Carrier Classic in Charleston, S.C. aboard the USS Yorktown, but the game was called off because weather conditions caused a slippery court. ' ' '