Playoff magic number at 10

Victory over Celtics would give Hawks 44 before All-Star break.

BOSTON — The Hawks are one game away from the All-Star break and one win away from a single-digit magic number to clinch a playoff berth.

Yes, in February. It’s another reality in this dream season.

The Hawks’ magic number to clinch their eighth straight postseason berth is 10 entering today’s game with the Celtics. The Eastern Conference-leading Hawks (4310) are 21 games ahead of the ninth-place Nets (21-30). The Nets can win a maximum of 52 games, with the tiebreaker between the teams undecided.

Hence, any combination of Hawks’ wins and Nets’ losses totaling 10 will send the Hawks to the playoffs and extend the conference’s longest active postseason streak.

The Hawks conclude their season series with the Celtics, a team they have beaten twice.

Their magic number to clinch Southeast Division is 19 over the Wizards and to clinch the No. 1 seed in the East is 23 over the Raptors.

The Hawks have already set a franchise record for most wins before the All-Star break. A win over the Celtics and 44 victories would tie for second-most at the break in NBA history, matching the 1980-81 76ers, 2006-07 Mavericks and 2008-09 Celtics. The record is 46 wins, set by the 2010-11 Spurs.

“(Atlanta) can suck energy out of you the way they play,” Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said after the Hawks’ 117-105 victory Monday in Minnesota. “There’s a reason they’ve got three All-Stars. There’s a reason they’ve got the best record in the league and have won 43 games.

“This is a team that’s been together for a while, they know how to play, and every time that you gamble or make a mistake, they make you pay for it.”

The Hawks’ win came one night after a 94-88 loss at the Grizzlies. In that game, Al Horford and Paul Millsap combined for 10 points on 4-of-21 shooting.

It was a much different story for the Hawks’ big men against the Timberwolves. The All-Stars combined for 47 points on 19-of-31 shooting. DeMarre Carroll added a career-high 26 points as the Hawks avoided a two-game losing streak, which they have suffered only twice this season.

“It’s an important game, back to back, we’re on the road,” Horford said. “It was key for us to come out with a sense of urgency and put up a good showing. I felt like we played our style of basketball and got the win, which is most important.”

Following today’s game, some of the Hawks will be off for the All-Star break.

Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver will join Horford and Millsap as All-Star game participants, where they will be coached by Mike Budenholzer and his staff in Sunday’s game. In addition, Korver will compete in the 3-point Contest and Dennis Schroder will play in the Rising Stars Challenge, both Saturday.