CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers have clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the National Basketball Association (NBA) play-offs, where their likely opponent will be the Atlanta Hawks.

First, though, the teams have a home-and-home set to play, beginning on April 8 (April 9, Singapore time) in Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the Cavaliers (50-29) locked up at least the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference two days earlier, while the Hawks are currently fifth.

The remainder of the regular season means considerably more to Atlanta (45-34), who are not assured of a top-six finish that would keep them out of the play-in tournament.

“We understand the position and the standings and all that,” Hawks forward Jalen Johnson said. “Everyone knows the sense of urgency we’ve had since the All-Star break. We’ve got to take care of some things and go to Cleveland.”

The Hawks are one game ahead of the sixth-place Toronto Raptors with three remaining. The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are tied for seventh, half a game behind Toronto.

Atlanta missed a golden opportunity to take a commanding hold on fifth on April 6, squandering a 10-point lead in a 108-105 home loss to the New York Knicks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 36 points and first-time All-Star Johnson had 21 points and 11 rebounds.

January trade acquisition C.J. McCollum buried a three-pointer with 2.2 seconds left to bring the Hawks within one possession, but his 50-footer off the glass that could have forced overtime was a split second after the buzzer.

“This is like a lesson, a good test for us heading into the post-season,” said Johnson, who is averaging 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists. “The atmosphere was amazing at the end, big plays by both teams. I was proud of the approach of everyone on the team.”

Atlanta’s loss actually clinched home court for the Cavaliers, who were in the second half of their 142-126 road rout of the Me...