Hawks 117, Cavaliers 98: Mike Scott exploded for 26 points on 12-of-13 shooting off the bench as Atlanta cruised past visiting Cleveland to stay in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff Teague contributed 20 points and 12 assists and Lou Williams scored 16 points in a reserve role for the Hawks, who moved one game in front of the New York Knicks for the No. 8 spot in the East. Paul Millsap collected 16 points and 11 rebounds as Atlanta won for just the second time in the last nine games.

Dion Waiters scored 23 points for the Cavaliers, who slipped three games behind the Hawks for the No. 8 spot. Spencer Hawes recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds and six steals and Kyrie Irving had 13 points and six steals for Cleveland.

Millsap buried a 3-pointer on Atlanta’s first possession and the Hawks never trailed. Scott’s 3-pointer later in the first extended the lead out to 30-17 and his layup on the final possession of the period made it a 16-point gap after the opening quarter.

Scott scored the first five points of the second quarter as the lead reached 44-23, and Atlanta led by as much as 23 points before settling for a 61-49 lead at the break behind 18 points from Scott. Teague’s layup sent the Hawks into the fourth with a 17-point lead, and his 3-pointer with 1:20 to play made it a 114-95 gap as Atlanta put it away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Hawks shot 58.5 percent from the field and recorded assists on 35 of 48 made field goals. … Cavaliers C Anderson Varejao (shoulder) returned from a one-game absence and collected nine points and five rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. … Scott totaled 16 points on 5-of-17 shooting over the previous four games.