The Atlanta Hawks may be struggling overall, but they have dominated the Philadelphia 76ers. They hope that trend continues when the two clubs meet Sunday in Atlanta.
Atlanta has lost four of its last five games, including an embarrassing 142-115 thumping by Detroit on Friday in which the Hawks gave up a season high in points allowed. But they have won six straight contests against Philadelphia dating back to Dec. 8, 2023. The Hawks swept last year’s three-game series and knocked off the Sixers 142-134 in double-overtime Nov. 30 in the first of four regular-season meetings.
But the Sixers are in a good place against non-Atlanta teams, having won four of five since that loss to the Hawks. Philadelphia defeated Indiana 115-105 on Friday.
The Sixers were boosted against the Pacers by the return of Joel Embiid, who scored a season-high 39 points. Embiid continues to deal with a left knee injury that has plagued him for the last two seasons and has limited him to 10 games in this campaign. Having four days between games was obviously beneficial for Embiid.
“Obviously, it’s easier to be consistent when everything is going well physically,” Embiid said. “Working every day. Being on the court, being consistent. Just being able to do that and just trusting that.”
Embiid scored 18 points against the Hawks in the first meeting, which marked his return from missing nine games. He has averaged 25.9 points and 9.5 rebounds in 19 career games against Atlanta. Embiid is averaging 20.3 points and 5.9 rebounds this season.
“It’s a little adjustment so far, but I’m getting there,” Embiid said. “I think confidence is a big thing mentally. That’s where it starts. I’m in a good place, so I’ve just got to build on it and keep getting better.”
Embiid’s best game of the season came at the right time. Tyrese Maxey, the team’s leading scorer at 31.5 points, was out against Indiana because of an illness. Maxey scored 44 in the first game with Atlanta.
While Embiid benefited from the downtime, the Hawks looked lost after having five days of rest. Atlanta, playing without center Kristaps Porzingis for the second straight game and the sixth time in seven contests, was dominated on the inside and committed 20 turnovers.
“We’ve got to play through contact and, more than anything, if we don’t get stops, we can’t get out on the open floor or fall in a half-court game,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said. “They’re attacking the rim, and that becomes an issue for us defensively as much as offensively.”
Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for his third straight triple-double. It was his fifth of the season, which broke the franchise record set by Bill Bridges in 1969-1970, and seventh of his career, tying Mookie Blaylock’s team record.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker continues to pick up the scoring slack left by the absence of Trae Young. Alexander-Walker scored 22 points against the Pistons on Friday and is averaging 20.7 points and shooting 39.1% on 3-pointers.
“He’s given us that consistently,” Snyder said. “He came out shooting the ball, which we need. If he passes up those shots, they’re tougher to get.”
