Clippers Vs. Hawks: L.A. Needs One Win To Clinch Home Court Advantage

The Los Angeles Clippers have already clinched the best winning percentage in franchise history this season. Now they look to clinch home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs for the first time ever, as they hit the road to battle the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night at Philips Arena.

The Clippers need only one win in their final two games, or for Memphis to lost at home to the Orlando Magic, to ensure home court advantage in the first round. The Clippers end their regular season Wednesday night against teh New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Pacific Division title is also in play for the Clippers, but they need to win their final two games and have the Los Angeles Lakers lose Thursday night on the road against the Sacramento Kings. But the Clippers can't worry about two Thursday games not involving them when they have two games of their own to deal with.

On the court, the Clippers (40-24) weathered a ridiculous March schedule that saw them play 20 games in 31 days. The Clippers won their final five games of the month and it has carried over into April as the team has won 14 of their last 17 games overall.

Chris Paul scored 33 points and had 13 assists in Monday's comeback home win over the New Orleans Hornets. The Clippers trailed by 13 points in the fourth quarter, but their comeback victory was the 14th win of the season for the Clippers in which they trailed by at least 10 points, tops in the NBA.

Atlanta (38-26) is one of three Eastern Conference teams the Clippers will have played twice this season in the lockout-shortened schedule. The Clippers beat the Hawks 96-82 on March 14 at Staples Center, but they have lost their last two games in Atlanta. The Clippers haven't won a season series against the Hawks since the 2004-2005 season.

Should the Clippers win one of their final two games, they will have the first winning road record in franchise history. At 16-15 away from home so far this season, the Clippers are one of just eight NBA teams with a winning road record.

Tuesday's 4:30 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on Clippers basketball, be sure to read Clips Nation.