GRADES: Philadelphia 76ers 105, Atlanta Hawks 103
The Philadelphia 76ers battled hard en route to a 3-0 record.
This game is where Joel Embiid returned from an ankle injury for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks were flying high. Both teams were 2-0 going into tonight. We all know something had got to give with that being the case.
The first quarter could lead one to panic considering the Sixers gave up 40 points and six threes. Trae Young was, well, performing like the newly minted Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Despite that offensive explosion, the Sixers were only down 9 thanks to early defensive disruption by one Matisse Thybulle.
Ramping up their physicality and better shot selection allowed the Sixers to regain their wits in the second quarter. The Sixers did their best to match Atlanta’s first quarter, making four threes in the second quarter. The Sixers recovered by only being down 65-63 at halftime.
The second half is where the intensity skyrocketed on the court and with the refs, the officials made multiple questionable calls. Missing travels and awarding fouls to Trae Young when he initiated the contact. Two technical fouls were given in the third quarter, one for Trae Young and one for Joel Embiid, after Embiid posterized John Collins.
Both teams were battling. The lead never was never larger than eight in the second half for either side. The Sixers used the muscle of Joel Embiid to go up 105-103 with 5.3 seconds left. Vince Carter, the NBA’s 20th all-time leading scorer, temporarily had the Sixers holding their breath before missing a tough running 3-pointer to win the game.
A+. <strong>33 min | 36 pmts | 13 rebs | 5 asts | 3 sals | 1 blk | 7 TO | 12-19 FG | 2-6 3PT | 10-10 FT | 5 PFs | +9</strong><p>Joel Embiid was a force of nature tonight. Using his classic post moves to be as efficient and impactful as possible. Embiid getting back to the free throw line like a buffet line was just as refreshing as it was familiar.</p>. C. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID
Philadelphia 76ers. JOSH RICHARDSON. B+. <strong>31 min | 14 pts | 5 rebs | 3 sats | 0 stl | 3 blks | 3 TOs | 6-14 FG | 2-5 3PT | 0-0 FT | 5 PFs | +12</strong><p><a rel=. G
B-. <strong>20 min | 8 pts | 3 rebs | 0 asts | 4 stls | 2 blk | 3 TOs | 2-8 FG | 2-7 3PT | 2-4 FT | 4 PFs | -12</strong><p>Matisse Thybulle was given the task of guarding Trae Young and Thybulle certainly made Young uncomfortable, even forcing a couple turnovers. Thybulle’s 3-point shooting stats may look discouraging but the fact that he’s comfortable enough to shoot them is only going to work in his and the Sixers favor. Another night where the rookie made an impact on the floor.</p>. G. Philadelphia 76ers. MATISSE THYBULLE
B. <strong>32 min | 5 pts | 9 rebs | 2 asts | 1 stls | 4 blks | 1 TO | 1-4 FG | 1-2 3PT | 2-2 FT | 4 PFs | +4</strong><p><a rel=. PF. Philadelphia 76ers. AL HORFORD
C. <strong>38 min | 13 pts | 6 rebs | 6 sats | 1 stl | 1 blk | 4 TOs | 6-11 FG | 0-0 3PT | 1-2 FT | 4 PFs | -4</strong><p><a rel=. G. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS
Tobias Harris hit a big turnaround two-pointer over Cam Reddish with 42.1 seconds left. Other than that, Harris disappointed in this game, in which he was 1-9 from 3-point range.
Mike Scott didn’t have a real chance to have the same impact he did against Detroit. Scott was charged with an egregious flagrant two foul on Damian Jones in the second quarter. Don’t worry, Scott calmly went back to the locker room after the verdict, even showing sportsmanship by shaking Jones’ hand before exiting.
Shake Milton was on the way to another promising game, with nine points on 2-5 3-point shooting in 13 minutes, before hyperextending his left knee. It looked like a scary injury in real time but Milton walked off the court with only a slight limp. Milton looks like he will crack the rotation at some point the season.
Next. Simmons earns inaugural Player of the Week. dark
The third game and the team doesn’t hasn’t put in a complete game yet. All that matters is that they won and made the right plays when they counted. Now the Sixers come back to Philly to face the Minnesota Timberwolves and to hopefully defend home court successfully.