Woodson signs two-year deal with Atlanta

Rick Sund’s first two weeks as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks convinced him the team is moving in the right direction and should keep Mike Woodson as coach.

Woodson, who in his fourth season led the team to its first playoff berth in nine years, has signed a two-year extension, Sund announced Friday.

“What I really felt was that each year the club had improved and got better,” said Sund.

Woodson’s record is 106-222, but the Hawks’ win total has improved in each of his four years. They ended the NBA’s longest playoff drought this season, when they were 37-45 before stretching the Boston Celtics to seven games in a first-round series.

Celtics call on reserves

With starters Kendrick Perkins (strained left shoulder) and Rajon Rondo (left ankle bruise) both unable to finish Game 4, and Paul Pierce (right knee sprain) also injured, the Celtics will rely on their reserves in Game 5 on Sunday night.

Coach Doc Rivers said that Perkins has a 50-50 chance “at best” of playing in Game 5 on Sunday night because of a strained left shoulder. Rondo and Pierce are expected to play.

•Game 4 on Thursday night had an 8.7 rating on ABC, down from a 9.2 for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Around the league

LeBron James will be the only Cleveland Cavaliers player going to China this summer. The Cavaliers have declined permission for center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to play for Lithuania in the Olympics, citing his history of injuries. … Utah forward Matt Harpring had surgery to remove two bone spurs from his right ankle. … Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will be the first witness to testify on Monday when the city’s lawsuit seeking to keep the SuperSonics from leaving for Oklahoma City goes to trial. Nickels is expected to testify about the role the SuperSonics play in the cultural and civic life of Seattle.