Atlanta Hawks Take Down Philadelphia 76ers 117-107 In Huge Road Win
The Atlanta Hawks went into Philadelphia and got the win against the 76ers in their first game back from the All-Star Break. Jalen Johnson led the way with 32 points, and the Hawks absolutely dominated in the paint. Atlanta is making a push to get back above .500, and this win is a great start. As for Philadelphia, things are getting ugly quickly.
Hawks Dominated Down Low
Atlanta outscored Philadelphia 54-38 in points in the paint and took advantage of the absence of Joel Embiid. CJ McCollum dominated off the bench, putting up 23 points and taking advantage of the 76ers lackluster defense. He drew a ton of fouls, which completely changed the momentum. While Philadelphia made a late run, the Hawks remained firmly in control throughout the game and never wavered.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels also played a great game, combining for 29 points and making some clutch shots late. Atlanta got many of Philadelphia’s players into foul trouble, including VJ Edgecombe, which was a huge turning point in tonight’s contest. The Hawks will head back for a five-game home stand, beginning Friday night against the Miami Heat.
The 76ers Are Falling Fast
After losing Paul George and now Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers are falling fast and don’t have an answer to get out of it. They’ve now lost three straight games without Embiid, and look completely lost on both sides of the ball. Head Coach Nick Nurse has proved useless on the bench, aside from his ability to scream and complain to the referees during the game.
Jared McCain looks worse by the day, and Philly’s depth is thin, especially when they are without their two star players. Daryl Morey has once again failed to properly construct a roster and decided that subtracting at the trade deadline rather than adding was a smart idea. Unless Maxey drops 40+ points, the team simply does not have a chance to win games.
The timeline for Embiid’s return is still unknown, and every game he misses seems to be an automatic loss for Philadelphia. They are just one game ahead of the Orlando Magic, who are currently holding a spot in the play-in tournament. What started as an energetic team has now lost all power, and the fans continue to voice their frustrations with the organization.
Tight Race In the East
Right now, the Eastern Conference is extremely close. The Hawks, who currently sit below .500, are only four games behind the 76ers and are the No. 6 seed. If Atlanta can build on tonight’s win, it could solidify its position in the playoff picture. The team has done a nice job after moving on from Trae Young and has an extremely bright future.
As for the 76ers, they will try to keep their heads above water and stay in control. George is still set to miss a bunch of time, and the defense has taken a huge hit with his absence. If Embiid can return next week, I think Philadelphia will be fine.
