76ers 113, Hawks 92
■ Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, right, blocks a shot by Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young during the first half Monday in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA—Ben Simmons had 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists and the Philadelphia 76ers flashed a little of last year’s playoff form in a 113-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
Without a major roster addition, the Sixers had played little like a team that won 52 games and a playoff round a year ago. Simmons and Joel Embiid have been solid and are making early cases for All-Star berths. But Philly’s distinguished duo had little help and the Sixers had won their last two games by one and two points, respectively, and needed this win just to move above .500 (4-3).
Here’s how much expectations have soared in Philly: the Sixers were booed by fans, who showed nothing but love in the early day of “The Process,” as they trudged off the court at the break tied 47-all.
They got some help in the third from the oft-maligned Markelle Fultz. Fultz, desperately trying to join Simmons and Embiid as a cornerstone trio, had a sweet stretch during which he buried an open 3, crushed a one-handed dunk in transition and had an assist on an Embiid jumper for a 78-60 lead.
Fultz had season-highs with seven baskets (on 16 attempts) and 16 points in 23 minutes.
That was enough to help send Atlanta to its second straight loss. Kent Bazemore led the Hawks with 18 points.