NBA: Boston 99, Atlanta 89

ATLANTA, April 12 (UPI) -- Kevin Garnett's 24 points and six rebounds Saturday led the Boston Celtics over the Atlanta Hawks 99-89.

Garnett had six points and six rebounds in the fourth period. The game was tied 74-74 after three and the Hawks went up 84-78 lead with 8:22 remaining in the game after Mike Bibby's three-pointer, but Boston closed with a 19-5 run.

Sam Cassell scored 20 points with five assists and both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce scored 14 for the Atlantic Division champion Celtics, who won for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

Atlanta was led by Joe Johnson's 21 points with eight assists. Al Horford had 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Josh Smith had 17 points, six rebounds and four assists and Bibby added 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Hawks, who could have locked up the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth because Philadelphia lost 109-93 at Washington Saturday.