Atlanta, GA—The Hawks entered Monday night series down 2-1 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Atlanta were able to withstand a late run by the Sixers and slid by them by a score of 103-100 in State Farm Arena. This win keeps Atlanta’s postseason hopes alive for a few more days.
Trae Young scored 25 points with 18 assists matching his career high and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 22 points for Atlanta in the victory.
Young scored or assisted in the Hawks’ final 15 points, including four straight free throws to seal the win. All five Hawks starters scored double digits. Bogdanovic chipped in 22 points, and both Collins (14 points, 12 boards) and Clint Capela (12 points, 13 boards) recorded double-doubles in the comeback win.
Philadelphia led 62-49 in the first half after dominating the half. The Sixers contained Young early but Atlanta was able to slow the game tempo in the third. The Hawks mounted a comeback in the third quarter to trim the lead to 82-80 with one quarter left to play.
Bogdanovic hit a long three to give the Hawks the lead to open the fourth quarter and the Hawks continued to make timely buckets down the stretch as the 76ers went cold. Joel Embiid missed a shot late and Atlanta sealed the win with free throws.
Embiid had 17 points and 21 boards for the Sixers, but finished 4-20 from the field. Ben Simmons nearly had a triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists but Atlanta kept making shots.
Young’s right shoulder was taped, which Atlanta coach Nate McMillan saw for the first time when the point guard took off his warmups before the game.
“He kind of gave me a look like he didn’t know about it,” Young said. “I told him ‘We’re fine, we’re good, let’s go win.’”
Young tried to reassure McMillan after it became clear the Hawks point guard was concealing the injury.
McMillan had nothing to say after Young uplifted Atlanta to a desparate win over top-seeded Philadelphia.
The 76ers blew an 18-point lead and have major concerns: Big man Embiid spent time in the locker room in the second quarter and was 0-for-12 from the field in the second half.
“Even before I went back to the locker room I felt like I didn’t have it,” Embiid said.
Embiid is playing with torn cartilage in his right knee.
“I guess it’s already known,” Embiid said, confirming the knee was what caused him to leave the bench area. “There’s no need to explain myself anymore. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”
Embiid finished the contest with 17 points and 21 rebounds.
“I’ve coached a lot of games where guys haven’t had it all night but they’re still your guys,” coach Doc Rivers said, adding he would take Embiid “whether you’ve got it going or not.”
Sixers’ guard Seth Curry said Embiid “was pressing maybe a little bit.”
After falling behind 98-94 with 2:44 left in the game, Young drew the Philadelphia’s defense and found Collins for a three in the corner. Young then scored four straight on back-to-back possessions on either side of the one-minute mark — two on a floater over Philadelphia’s interior defense and a pair of free throws on a late whistle against Sixers Embiid — giving the Hawks a 101-98 advantage with 49.6 seconds on the clock.
“This team never gives up, no matter what the score is,” Young said. “I love the way we fight and I’m proud of our team tonight.”
Tobias Harris scored 20 points for the Sixers and Curry had 17, missing a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Philadelphia at 7:30 PM ET.
