Hawks Edge Out 76ers in Nail-Biter at State Farm Arena

In a league defined by superstars and super teams, sometimes the grittiest wins come down to who wants it more in the final seconds, and the Hawks were that team tonight. Sunday night at State Farm Arena was one of those nights. The Atlanta Hawks scraped, clawed, and ultimately survived a furious late-game surge from the Philadelphia 76ers, securing a 120-117 victory that felt less like a mid-December matchup and more like a playoff preview.

This wasn’t just another mark in the win column; it was a statement. Facing a Philadelphia squad loaded with firepower—Paul George dropped 35, and Joel Embiid added a 22-point double-double—Atlanta refused to blink. Led by the dynamic duo of Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu, the Hawks showcased the kind of resilience that turns promising seasons into special ones.

Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu Lead the Charge

You can talk about game plans and analytics all day, but sometimes basketball comes down to pure effort. Dyson Daniels was the embodiment of that energy on Sunday. Finishing with a team-high 27 points and 10 rebounds, Daniels was everywhere the Hawks needed him to be. He wasn’t just scoring; he was disrupting passing lanes, crashing the boards, and setting the tempo. His efficiency was off the charts, shooting 13-of-19 from the field, finding gaps in the Sixers’ defense that nobody else saw.

But Daniels wasn’t flying solo. Onyeka Okongwu was a force of nature in the paint. Matched up against the daunting physical presence of Joel Embiid, Okongwu didn’t back down an inch. He tallied 20 points and pulled down a monstrous 15 rebounds, giving Atlanta crucial second-chance opportunities. When the Hawks needed a bucket to stop a Philly run, Okongwu was often the answer, showing an expanded range by knocking down timely jumpers that stretched the floor.

Jalen Johnson also deserves a massive nod for his playmaking. While his scoring was modest at 12 points, his triple-double performance—adding 10 rebounds and 12 assists—was the glue that held the offense together. Johnson’s vision allowed Daniels and Okongwu to feast, proving that this young core is learning how to win together.

A Shootout from Beyond the Arc

If you like perimeter shooting, this game was a masterclass. Both teams came out firing, but Atlanta’s efficiency from deep was the differentiator. The Hawks shot a scorching 50% from three-point land (17-of-34), making the Sixers pay for every defensive lapse.

It seemed like every time Philadelphia threatened to take control, a Hawks shooter would silence the crowd—or in this case, ignite the home fans. Zaccharie Risacher and Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit massive shots in critical moments. The ball movement was crisp, leading to 33 assists on 43 made field goals. That unselfishness is becoming a hallmark of this team’s identity.

On the other side, the Sixers were no slouches, hitting nearly 42% of their threes. Paul George was lethal, looking like his prime self, while rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe poured in 26 points. But Atlanta’s defense, despite giving up 117 points, made the stops when it absolutely mattered most, holding firm in a fourth quarter that ended dead even at 26-26.

Surviving the Final Buzzer

The box score says the Hawks won by three, but it doesn’t capture the sheer anxiety of the final moments. With the clock ticking down and the score tight, every possession felt heavy. Philadelphia had one last gasp to force overtime. Quentin Grimes let a three-pointer fly at the buzzer that looked good the moment it left his hand. State Farm Arena held its breath. The ball rattled in—and then heartbreakingly spun out for the Sixers.

That stroke of luck? Maybe. But you create your own luck by putting yourself in a position to win. The Hawks earned that bounce by out-rebounding a massive Philly team 67 to 61 and forcing 16 turnovers.

What This Win Means for Atlanta

With this victory, the Hawks improve to 15-12, solidifying their spot near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Beating a contender like Philadelphia does wonders for a team’s psyche. It proves that their roster construction works against the league’s elite.

We are seeing the evolution of a team that isn’t just satisfied with making the play-in tournament. They want respect. They want home-court advantage. And if Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu continue to play with this level of intensity, the rest of the East needs to start paying very close attention to what’s happening in Atlanta.

For one night in December, the Hawks looked like they could beat anybody.