Undermanned Sixers fall to Hawks
ATLANTA» Trae Young scored
26 points, including the first three baskets of Atlanta’s dominant start to the second half, and the Hawks beat the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers 112
94 on Monday night. De’Andre Hunter and Brandon Goodwin had 15 points as the Hawks snapped a fourgame losing streak. Clint Capela added 12 points and 10 rebounds as six Atlanta players scored in double figures.
Young, who was held to a combined 22 points in his last two games, regained his scoring touch. He opened the second half with a jumper before adding back-to-back layups.
Young’s spurt keyed Atlanta’s 15-2 run to open the half. The Hawks stretched a 65-50 halftime advantage to an 8052 lead with the run. Atlanta led 95-65 late in the third before Young and other starters sat out the final period.
Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Isaiah Joe had 18 points.
The Sixers used nine players. That may have seemed like an abundance of depth after Philadelphia was limited to only seven players in Saturday’s 115-103 home loss to Denver. Forward Mike Scott (knee) and Embiid (back tightness) returned to add depth.
Philadelphia is far from full strength. Ben Simmons (sore left knee) was again held out. The depth problems will continue through the week after Seth Curry tested positive for
COVID-19 on Thursday. Tobias Harris and reserves Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Vincent Poirier were again held out due to
COVID-19 protocols. The NBA called off two games on Monday due to the virus.
Rookie Tyrese Maxey, who scored 39 points in his first start against Denver, had 15.
The Sixers leaned on Embiid early. The center had 16 first-quarter points as Philadelphia led 32-28 before fading in the second period.
Young and the Hawks finished the first half strong, closing with a 10-4 run that began with three consecutive baskets set up by Young’s passes.
TIP-INS
76ers: Coach Doc Rivers said he hopes Simmons (sore
left knee) can return Tuesday night against Miami after missing his second consecutive game. “We thought it’d be one game and now it’s two,” Rivers said. The team was fined $25,000 on Monday for failing to list Simmons on the initial injury report Saturday’s game against Denver. ... F Furkan Korkmaz (groin) was held out.
Hawks: Coach Lloyd Pierce had no update on the sever
ity of G Bogdan Bogdanovic’s avulsion fracture in his right knee. The team announced Sunday soft tissue inflammation and a bone bruise also was diagnosed. Bogdanovic was one of the major offseason acquisitions for Atlanta, signing a four-year, $72 million contract in free agency. ... G Tony Snell (right foot) made his season debut midway through the fourth period and missed each of his three shots.