The Latest Breaking News from Hawks

ATLANTA — On Friday evening, Damon Stoudamire was an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics who had just arrived in Atlanta for a Saturday night game against the Hawks. That’s when he received a call from a search firm. It was not out of the ordinary.

Finishing 32nd in the final NHL standings and guaranteeing a top-three pick in the draft lottery — now scheduled for May 8 — would benefit the organization long-term. But that’s not on this team’s mind, and they’re significantly overachieving right now.

The fan bases of the Chicago Bears and Blackhawks are in different places right now.

The Hawks had kept an eye on Anderson for a while before acquiring him from the Maple Leafs, and assistant coach Derek Plante — who has known Anderson for years — has helped him acclimate. But now he must prove he deserves another contract.

MIAMI — No one in the NBA plays more close games than the Miami Heat and no one other than the Heat plays more close games than the Utah Jazz, so of course their showdown Monday in Miami came down to the final possessions.

ATLANTA – There were times the Timberwolves tried to relinquish a 28-point lead in the second half Monday.

Sacramento is suddenly gaining on Denver in the race for first place in the Western Conference.

Guttman was shut down Monday for the rest of the season, allowing him to get the surgery early enough to fully recover before training camp next fall. He finishes with six points in 14 NHL games and 30 points in 39 AHL games, having made a big impression at both…

Both teams have since doubled down on their respective strategies, with the Hawks continuing to convert all valuable players into draft picks and the Lightning continuing to do the opposite. And Hagel has fully lived up to expectations in Tampa while Taylor Raddysh has flourished a bit in Chicago.