NEW YORK – One team plays for a possible postseason berth. The other just plays because the schedule requires them to. That is why the Atlanta Hawks, currently in ninth-place, traveled to New York for Sunday’s game. Every game on their agenda has importance, and meaning. They entered with a record of 26 wins and 38 losses, not glamorous by any stretch, but good enough to trail the Nets by just one-half game for the eighth, and final, playoff spot in the East.

By contrast, the Knicks, now 19-47, had arrived simply to fulfill the NBA’s mandate.

Atlanta’s 109-98 victory at the Garden on Sunday will be recorded more for posterity than any greater significance. They beat an inferior opponent in a season that is best forgotten. The Hawks remain in contention because Joe Johnson hit five-of-nine from beyond the arc for 28 points, and dished for 11 assists; Marvin Williams [25 points, eight boards] made 12-of-19 from inside; and Josh Childress, with 22 and nine, further supported their efforts.

Josh Smith, the Hawks’ high-flyin’ forward added 15 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Al Horford, Atlanta’s Rookie of the Year entry, finished with 10 rebounds and eight points.

The Hawks won every quarter, but didn’t pull away until Johnson’s free throw with 10:10 remaining in the fourth forged their first double-digit [92-82] lead.

Atlanta won for just the fifth time in 15 games since Mike Bibby’s arrival from the Sacramento Kings on February 16. And, while Bibby’s shot seemed to be left behind [two-of-11, including 0-4 from distance], he did contribute seven assists. The 18 combined helpers between Johnson and Bibby was one more than New York amassed.

On the other side, Isiah Thomas as endured a verbal lynching virtually the entire season. The best he can offer at the present time is hope for a brighter future, whether he is there or not.

“We are continuing to focus on making our players better,” Thomas said. “We are trying to give Wilson Chandler and Randolph Morris some extended minutes out on the floor playing against some of the better players in the league.”

On this day, Chandler [one-for-nine shooting in 33:11] and Morris [eight points and one rebound before fouling out in 17:52] were not factors. But, in fairness, not many of their teammates were either.

Nate Robinson tallied 23 points, but shanked 13 of 22 shots. In the opening quarter alone, he missed eight shots; the 12 shots that he took represented half of New York’s total. Fred Jones scored 14 points, but was six-for-16. James Crawford, the team’s leading scorer, finished with just four points.

Although the Knicks recorded a paltry nine turnovers, they failed on 13-of-16 attempts from the three-point line, and converted just 15 of 28 [53.6%] from the charity stripe. Renaldo Balkman, who provided the game’s most athletic moment after landing past the courtside seats during his pursuit of a loose ball, faltered on seven-of-ten from the line; Morris botched all five attempts.

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