The Hawks are on the cusp of making a giant step forward, as playing these close game may prove. But they have a lot of learning and growing to do before they can begin to make these close losses quality wins.

One more point.

One more free throw.

One more pass.

One more of anything and the Hawks would have taken out the team with the best record in basketball, the Sacramento Kings.

Denver beat Chicago 100-84, as Juwan Howard had 23 points to help the Nuggets.  Howard and former "Fab Five" teammate Jalen Rose squared off in their first match-up since being traded.

Kenny Satterfield ran the point position well in George McClouds absence.

Joe Stevens recaps the Jazz-Clippers game.

"It was one of the most meaningful games the Clippers have played since making the playoffs in 1997. And, well, for the rest of the season, the games figure to be getting less and less meaningful.  

The wily Utah Jazz repeatedly got wide-open shots, shot an impressive 54.7 percent and took control of the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot with a 105-92 victory over the Clippers before 19,513 Saturday night at Staples Center. The Clippers lost their 13th consecutive game to the Jazz and haven't beaten them since 1999.

The Clippers (37-37) fell 4?1/2 games behind the Jazz (41-32). The teams have a rematch in Utah on Wednesday, but the Jazz need just five wins or five Clipper losses to clinch the final playoff spot."