Hawks clinch a playoff spot and Southeast Division behind 29 points from McCollum in rout of Cavs

ATLANTA (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 29 points and the Atlanta Hawks used a big third quarter to blow out the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-102 on Friday night, clinching a playoff spot and the Southeast Division title.

The Hawks had not won the Southeast Division since 2021, when they ultimately advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. They have been in the play-in tournament the last four seasons.

James Harden scored 20 points for the Cavs, who are locked into the No. 4 seed in the East. Jaylon Tyson returned from a 10-game absence to start and had 15 points.

Dyson Daniels had 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, his second triple-double of his career. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 18 points and Jalen Johnson added 18 points and nine rebounds before sitting out the final 10 minutes of the game. The Cavs shot 26% from 3-point range.

The Hawks have won 14 of their final 15 home games ahead of the playoffs.

Atlanta led 66-55 in the third quarter, then put together a 16-0 run to push the lead to 27. It was never threatened thereafter.

The Cavs were missing leading scorer Donovan Mitchell (right ankle) and starter Jarrett Allen (right knee), as well as reserve Sam Merrill (left hamstring).

Cavs: At Washington on Friday.

Hawks: Visit Miami on Sunday.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) dunks against Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye, center left, and guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson, center, drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, left, and forward Jonathan Kuminga, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (AP) — UC Santa Barbara will join the West Coast Conference for the 2027-28 season, increasing the membership in the league to 12 teams.

The West Coast Conference Presidents’ Council approved the admission of UC Santa Barbara on Friday, following recent decisions to add Denver and UC San Diego.

Denver will begin play in the league next season with the two California schools following the following year.

WCC powerhouse Gonzaga is leaving the conference at the end of this school year to join the Pac-12 but the new additions will give the league 12 schools for the first time.

"This is a monumental moment for the West Coast Conference as we grow our membership to 12 institutions for the first time in our history and enhance our national profile with the addition of UC Santa Barbara,” WCC commissioner Stu Jackson said in a statement.

UC Santa Barbara will compete in the West Coast Conference in 13 sports, including men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, baseball, softball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s golf and men’s water polo.

The WCC had three schools make the NCAA men's basketball tournament this season, with Saint Mary's and Santa Clara joining Gonzaga in March Madness. This is the seventh straight tournament that the league got multiple bids.

The conference has sent multiple women’s basketball teams to the tournament five of the past seven events.

UC Santa Barbara was previously a member of the West Coast Conference from 1965-1969.

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FILE - The UC Santa Barbara mascot performs during a timeout in the first half of an Southeast Regional second round NCAA tournament college basketball game against Florida in Tampa, Fla., March 17, 2011. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)