ATLANTA — As streamers poured from the rafters at Philips Arena, Marvin Williams stood at center court with arms folded, looking defiant, even with a sore knee. Zaza Pachulia grabbed a microphone and summed up this improbable series.

"We're going to Game 7! Woooooooooo!" Pachulia screamed.

Game 7, indeed.

Who would have believed it?

Refusing to let go of their first trip to the playoffs in nine years, the Hawks forced an improbable deciding game with the Boston Celtics when Joe Johnson hit a crucial 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining and Atlanta held on for a 103-100 victory last night.

The Hawks, just 37-45 during the regular season, have now beaten the Celtics three times in the space of a week to set up a deciding game in a series that was supposed to be a sweep. After all, Boston went an NBA-leading 66-16 and defeated Atlanta in all three meetings before the playoffs.

But, against all odds, the Hawks are heading to Boston for Game 7 tomorrow.

"Seven! Seven! Seven!" chanted the record crowd of 20,425 at Philips Arena.

The Celtics are still the obvious favorite, having won all three games at their place by an average of 22 points. But the Hawks have lasted longer than anyone would have expected.

"I feel very good," said Pachulia, a little-used center who's making quite an impact in this series. "You've got to be able to win on the road. We've lost three in a row. We should be able to win one up there. It would be sad if we lost four in a row."

The Celtics looked as shell-shocked as anyone. Paul Pierce fouled out and spent the final minutes on the bench with a towel draped over his head, barely able to watch.

"It's definitely a dream," Atlanta's Josh Smith said. "But we weren't going to be satisfied with just making the playoffs."

Williams led the Hawks with 18 points despite missing much of the fourth quarter with a sprained left knee. Kevin Garnett had 22 for the Celtics and Ray Allen added 20, but Pierce — the other member of Boston's Big Three — fouled out on a disputed call with 4:44 remaining.

Johnson, who went to the final period with just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, came alive in the fourth. He saved his biggest shot for the end, getting James Posey in the air with a pump fake before hitting Atlanta's only 3-pointer of the game to make it 100-95.

"I took a few dribbles," Johnson said. "I just wanted to get a good look. I felt like it would go in when it left my hand."

Posey got Johnson back by making a tough 3 from the wing with 48 seconds left, and the Celtics had a chance when Johnson missed a runner in the lane.

Wanting to finish off the pesky Hawks, the Celtics drew up a play to give Allen a look from beyond the arc. He missed, though; Johnson grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit two free throws with 10.6 seconds left.

After a quick basket by Garnett, Mike Bibby made only one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds to go, giving the Celtics a shot at forcing overtime. But the Hawks kept the ball from Allen and Posey, forcing Rajon Rondo to launch a long 3 that didn't even hit the rim as the horn sounded.

CAVS 105, WIZARDS 88

WASHINGTON — LeBron James had the last word.

In an NBA playoff series filled with trash talk, hard fouls, 13 technicals, one ejection, one suspension and plenty more, James was everywhere and did a little bit of everything in Game 6. And, in what's become his personal rite of spring, he led the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Washington Wizards.

James compiled 27 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his third career playoff triple-double, all the while helping slow Caron Butler at the defensive end, and the Cavaliers beat the Wizards last night to close the contentious series.

"Cleveland is advancing. We won the series 4-2. That speaks louder than me saying anything about the fans here, anything about DeShawn Stevenson," James said, referring to the Wizards guard who called him overrated. "Cleveland is advancing. That's all that matters."

It's the third consecutive postseason that the Cavaliers eliminated the Wizards in the first round — ending each of those series on Washington's home floor.

"Three times in a row. It's tough," Washington's Antonio Daniels said. "But who knows what happens if we have a healthy team? A healthy Gilbert Arenas? If we had Darius Songaila for Game 6 — who knows what happens?"

Songaila, a reserve forward, was barred from Friday's game by the NBA for hitting James in the face at Cleveland in Game 5, a one-point Washington victory that extended the series.

JAZZ 113, ROCKETS 91

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz will be playing on the road tomorrow, but not in Houston.

The Jazz beat the Rockets last night to win the series 4-2 and avoid having to play a Game 7 on the road. The Jazz did that a year ago against the Rockets and didn't want to push their luck again in Texas.

The third quarter all but guaranteed they wouldn't have to. Deron Williams scored 13 of his 25 points in the period, making three of four 3-pointers as the Jazz outscored the Rockets 27-11.

It was Utah's second chance to clinch the series and went significantly better than the first. The Rockets avoided elimination with a 95-69 win on Tuesday and the Jazz came home embarrassed and determined.

"Our guys got ready to play them here after they beat us pretty good down at their place," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said.

By ending the series last night, the Jazz earned a trip to Los Angeles for Game 1 against the Lakers tomorrow.

"They had the kind of game we had at home. Give them the credit. We just kind of ran out of gas," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "We just didn't have enough answers for them."

Tracy McGrady scored 40 points and Luis Scola was the only other Rockets player in double figures with 15 points.