Dyson Daniels has helped Atlanta clinch a playoff spot and their first Southeast Division title in five years.

The Boomers star had 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Hawks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-102 on Friday night in Atlanta.

It was the in-form Daniels' second triple double of his NBA career.

Daniels scored six straight points in an 8-0 run in the second quarter that gave the Hawks a handy lead at 43-35. They ended the first half on a 26-13 surge, fuelled by CJ McCollum's four three-pointers in the final 3:09, to carry a 61-48 advantage into the intermission.

McCollum top-scored with 29 points as the hosts used a big third quarter to blow away the Cavaliers.

The Hawks had not won the Southeast Division since 2021, when they advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. They have been in the play-in tournament the past four seasons.

James Harden scored 20 points for the Cavs, who are locked into the No.4 seed in the East.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 18 points and Jalen Johnson added 18 points and nine rebounds before sitting out the final 10 minutes for the Hawks.

Atlanta have won 14 of their final 15 home games ahead of the playoffs.

Detroit, who had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference, beat the Charlote Hornets 118-110 away.

The Hornets' loss means they will be in the East's play-in tournament and eliminated any chance of them advancing directly to the playoffs.

Jalen Brunson scored 29 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the New York Knicks clinched the No.3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 112-95 win over Toronto - their 13th consecutive win over the Raptors.

The victory improved the Knicks to 53-28, in what could be a preview of a first-round playoff series.

The Boston Celtics tied the franchise and NBA record with 29 threes on their way to clinching the Eastern Conference's No.2 playoff seed with a 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jaylen Brown added 23 points in 29 minutes, and Payton Pritchard finished with 21 points and 10 assists for Boston, who clinched the Atlantic Division.

Jonas Valanciunas had season highs of 23 points and 17 rebounds as the Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107 in Denver.

Denver (53-28) won their 11th straight game to secure at least the No.4 seed in the Western Conference. Julian Strawther finished with 22 points and David Roddy had a season-high 21 points.

The Philadelphia 76ers (44-37) maintained their eighth-place position in the Eastern Conference with one game remaining after a 105-94 win over the Indiana Pacers.

At the other end of the table, the Washington Wizards clinched the worst record in the NBA with a 140-117 loss to the Miami Heat.

Washington (17-64) have lost nine in a row and 25 of their past 26 to become the first NBA team to lose 64 games in three consecutive seasons.

And in Los Angeles, LeBron James scored 28 points and dished out 12 assists to become the fourth player in NBA history to top 12,000 in a career, leading the Lakers to a convincing 101-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

- with Reuters