NBA: Atlanta 122, Indiana 118

Josh Smith scored 30 points Friday and the Atlanta Hawks tuned up for the playoffs by holding off an Indiana charge and downing the Pacers 122-118.

Indiana’s loss eliminated the Pacers from post-season contention.

Atlanta built an 11-point lead with 3:49 to play and survived down the stretch after Indiana cut its deficit to just three with 21 seconds left.

After Al Horford’s free throw boosted the Hawks’ advantage back to four points, Indiana missed a 3-point try and turned the ball over twice in the final 18 seconds.

Joe Johnson added 24 points and Horford had 22 for the Hawks, who will have the home-court edge in the first round of the playoffs by virtue of earning the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers went into the night’s action trailing eighth-place Detroit by four games with four to play.

Indiana got 35 points from Danny Granger.