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ATLANTA—The Atlanta Hawks just won’t let go of their first trip to the playoffs in nine years.

The playoff team with the worst record did it again to the team with the best mark, forcing an improbable Game 7 with the Boston Celtics as Joe Johnson hit a crucial 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining and the Hawks held on for a 103-100 victory Friday night.

The Hawks have now beaten the Celtics three times in the space of a week to set up a deciding game in a series that was supposed to be a sweep. But, against all odds, the Hawks are heading to Boston for Game 7 on Sunday.



Cavaliers 105, Wizards 88

WASHINGTON—LeBron James compiled 27 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his third career playoff triple-double, all the while helping slow Caron Butler at the defensive end, and the Cavaliers beat Washington to end their contentious series in six games.

Wally Szczerbiak added a career playoff-best 26 points and reserve Daniel Gibson had 22, combining for 10 of Cleveland’s 11 3-pointers.

James also picked up a technical foul, one of three called in a fittingly rough-at-times finale to a series that featured plenty of trash talk, hard fouls, one ejection and one suspension: Washington reserve forward Darius Songaila was barred from Friday’s game by the NBA for hitting James in the face in Game 5.

Butler finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Antawn Jamison led Washington with 23 points and 15 boards.