NBA playoff picture: Knicks still alive thanks to Hawks' loss; Nets sweep Heat

The Atlanta Hawks fell to the Detroit Pistons by a score of 102-95 on Tuesday night, keeping the New York Knicks' playoff hopes alive. With the Hawks' loss, the Knicks now sit 1 ½ games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Also benefiting from the Hawks' loss were the Cleveland Cavaliers, who now sit 3 ½ games behind Atlanta with four games remaining - three of which come against teams already eliminated from the postseason. The Hawks, meanwhile, have a less-than-favorable final stretch, with upcoming matchups against the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Bobcats.

Speaking of the Heat and Nets... Brooklyn escaped with an 88-87 victory over Miami on Tuesday, sweeping the four-game regular season series.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the conference-leading San Antonio Spurs by a score of 110-81. Ricky Rubio had a game-high 23 points for the Timberwolves while Kevin Love finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds in his return to the starting lineup.

The Dallas Mavericks were able to gain some ground in the West with a 95-83 victory over the Utah Jazz, and now sit one and two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively, for the seventh playoff spot. 

The Mavs have three games remaining on their regular season schedule while the Suns and Grizzlies both have five left to play.