NEW YORK – Joe Johnson kept the Atlanta Hawks in control of the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, scoring 34 points Friday night in a 116-104 victory over the New York Knicks.

Trying to end the NBA’s longest postseason drought, the Hawks remained two games ahead of the Indiana Pacers with three to play for each team. Atlanta trimmed its magic number to two for its first playoff berth since 1999.

Josh Smith and Mike Bibby added 24 points apiece for the Hawks, who won all four meetings with the Knicks this season, sweeping the series for the first time since moving to Atlanta for the 1968-69 season. Al Horford finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hawks host Boston on Saturday in what could be a preview of a first-round series.

Atlanta was in control most of the way, though the Knicks cut what was a 21-point deficit to 96-91 on Quentin Richardson’s 3-pointer with 6:43 remaining in the game. The Hawks quickly scored six straight, with Johnson’s jumper restoring a double-digit lead, and weren’t threatened again.

Jamal Crawford scored 20 points for the Knicks, who were trying for their first four-game winning streak of the season. New York still hasn’t won more than three in a row since a six-game winning streak from Jan. 2-13, 2006.

The Knicks fell to 23-57 and still need one more victory to avoid tying the franchise record of 59 losses, which they matched just two years ago during Larry Brown’s only season.

Wilson Chandler added 18 points and Zach Randolph had 17.

The Hawks made 14 of 21 shots in the first quarter, building a 34-23 lead behind 16 points from Johnson. The lead ballooned to 21 on Horford’s three-point play with 5:01 left in the first half, and Atlanta led 62-43 at the break.

Notes: The Knicks ended Atlanta’s lost postseason run, sweeping the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. … Smith was hit with a delay of game technical foul in the third quarter, then appeared to have words with assistant coach David Fizdale when he was taken out moments later.

AP-ES-04-11-08 2202EDT