TONIGHT IN THE NBA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Atlanta at New York 8:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference Semifinal New York leads, 3-0 ---------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks can become the first eighth seed to advance past the second round of the playoffs when they battle the Atlanta Hawks in Game Four of their Eastern Conference semifinal series tonight. The Knicks have jumped out to a three games to none lead in their best-of-seven series with Atanta after a 90-78 victory at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell scored 17 points apiece while Chris Dudley netted 14 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Sprewell has been a thorn in the Hawks' side in this series, averaging 26.3 points while shooting 49 percent (26-of-53) from the field. He is averaging 20.4 points and is shooting 47 percent in the playoffs. Prior to their upset of the Miami Heat in the first round, only one eighth seed had ever beaten a top seed since the postseason expanded to 16 teams in 1984. The Knicks are winning despite receiving limited help in the series from star center Patrick Ewing, who scored four points on 2-of-12 shooting and is still nursing injuries to his Achillies and rib muscle. Atlanta is struggling on offense this series, shooting 32 percent (78-of-242) from the floor. Steve Smith, who shot 40 percent from the field in the regular season, is only hitting 28 percent (15-of-54) in this series. Dikembe Mutombo has given the Hawks no help down low, averaging just 9.7 points on 36 percent (9-of-25) shooting. He was 51 percent from the floor in the regular season. The Knicks are attempting to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 1994 when they fell to the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals. New York has won six of its last seven home games dating back to the regular season. Atlanta is 0-3 on the road in the playoffs and has not won a postseason game outside of Georgia since Game Two of the 1997 Eastern Confernce semifinals against Chicago. A win will give the Knicks their first four-game sweep in 30 years. New York eliminated the Baltimore Bullets in the 1969 Eastern Division semifinals before falling to the Boston Celtics in the division final. The Knicks are also attempting to defeat an opponent four straight times in one series for the first time since the 1973 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. New York dropped Game One before winning the next four to claim its second world championship. The Hawks hope to avoid their first four-game sweep since 1970 when the Lakers bounced them in the Western Division finals. Atlanta's last sweep of any kind took place in 1995 when they fell in three games to the Indiana Pacers. A victory would send the Knicks to the conference finals against the Pacers. If the Hawks win, Game Five would be Wednesday in Atlanta.  