Hawks 105, Celtics 97: Jeff Teague had 19 points and eight assists and Kyle Korver scored 17 points as host Atlanta recorded a critical victory while extending Boston’s losing streak to nine games.

Paul Millsap had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Elton Brand added 13 points and 13 boards as the Hawks increased their lead to two games over the New York Knicks in the battle for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. DeMarre Carroll and Mike Scott added 13 points apiece and Atlanta used a late 19-3 spurt to overcome a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Avery Bradley scored 24 points and Rajon Rondo had 19 points and 12 assists for the Celtics, who have lost 14 of their last 15 games. Jared Sullinger added 15 points and 11 rebounds and Jeff Green scored 13 points for Boston.

Bradley scored seven points during a 10-3 burst that saw Boston hold a nine-point lead midway through the fourth quarter before Atlanta scored the next 10 to take a 90-89 lead on Korver’s 3-pointer with 3:42 to play. Sullinger made a 3-pointer to put Boston back ahead before Korver hit another 3-pointer to start a string of nine consecutive points as the Hawks took a 99-92 lead with 1:13 remaining while reducing their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to two.

Atlanta shot 62.2 percent from the field in the first half while taking a 56-51 lead but scored just 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting in the third quarter. Boston used a 10-0 surge to take a five-point lead and Green’s 3-pointer allowed the Celtics to take a 77-70 advantage into the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Millsap has recorded six consecutive double-doubles. … Celtics F Kris Humphries (knee) missed his second straight game and underwent an MRI exam that displayed a bruised meniscus. … Hawks G Lou Williams had nine points in 17 minutes after sitting out back-to-back games with a hamstring injury, while C Pero Antic (ankle) sat out the contest.