Hawks Beat Pistons and Move On to Boston

Spud Webb, the smallest player in the National Basketball Assn., contributed to the Atlanta Hawks in a big way Friday night, making two free throws with three seconds left in double overtime to beat Detroit.

The Hawks’ 114-113 victory over the Pistons gave Atlanta the best-of-five series, 3-1. The last time the Hawks won a playoff series was 1979, when they beat Houston, 2-0.

“I wasn’t nervous,” said the 5-7 Webb, who missed the first of two free throws that would have won the game with six seconds remaining in the first overtime. “When the first one goes in, the second is easy.”

The Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, starting Sunday at Boston.

The score was tied, 92-92, after four quarters and, 103-103, after the first five-minute overtime.

Detroit’s Isiah Thomas scored six of his 30 points in the second overtime, including an underhand flip shot in the lane that put the Pistons ahead, 113-112, with 11 seconds remaining.

After an Atlanta timeout, the Hawks worked the ball to Webb, who drove the right side of the lane and was fouled by Kelly Tripucka. Webb finished with nine points.

Dominique Wilkins, who was held to 21 points in Game 3 after scoring 50 in Game 2, finished with 38 points for Atlanta.