The Hawks can finish no better than third in the NBA draft lottery standings after the Grizzlies lost to the Timberwolves on Monday night.
With one game left for each team, the Grizzlies (22-59) will finish the season with a worse record than the Hawks (24-57). The Hawks are tied for the NBA’s third-worst record with the Mavericks and Magic, who lost to the Bucks on Monday night. The Suns (20-61) will finish with the NBA’s worst record and thus have the best odds (25 percent) to win the lottery and pick no later than fourth.
The Hawks conclude the season Tuesday at Philips Arena against the Sixers (50-30). The Mavericks play at home against the Suns on Tuesday, and the Magic play host to the Wizards (42-38) on Wednesday.
Also, the Hawks will acquire Minnesota’s first-round draft pick if the Timberwolves make the playoffs. Minnesota will clinch a playoff berth only with a victory against the Nuggets on Wednesday night.
A lottery is used to determine the top three positions in the draft, after which the remaining teams pick in reverse order of record.
The team with the second-worst record (no ties) will have about a 20 percent chance of winning the lottery and will pick no later than fifth. The team with the third-worst record (no ties) will have a roughly 16 percent chance to win the lottery and pick no later than sixth. The team with the fourth-worst record (no ties) has a bout a 12 percent chance of winning the lottery and will pick no later than seventh.
