NBA: Atlanta 116, New York 104

NEW YORK, April 11 (UPI) -- Joe Johnson made six three-pointers Friday en route to a 34-point effort that boosted the Atlanta Hawks to a 116-104 victory over New York.

Atlanta maintained a two-game lead over Indiana for the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have three games remaining.

The Hawks got 24 points each from Josh Smith and Mike Bibby, in winning for the seventh time in nine games. Atlanta made nine of 15 three-point attempts and shot 55 percent from the field overall.

New York, which had a three-game winning streak snapped, was led by 20 points from Jamal Crawford.

Atlanta opened a 93-76 lead three minutes into the final period before the Knicks went on a 17-3 run.

Josh Childress then hit a layup for the Hawks, Smith converted two free throws and Johnson made a jumper to end the New York comeback bid and the Knicks came no closer than eight the rest of the way.