The Hawks (5-5) broke a four-game losing streak with a 112-94 win over the 76ers (7-4) Monday at State Farm Arena.
Next up, a three-game West Coast road trip to Phoenix (Wednesday), Utah (Friday) and Portland (Saturday)
Below are some takeaways from the win:
1. After a four-game losing streak and with a tough West Coast road trip looming, this was a much-needed win for the Hawks — even if it comes against a shorthanded Philly team playing without Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris or Seth Curry.
“We tried to get as many easy baskets as we could from running, but I enjoyed the way our guys played tonight,” Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said. “It was good to see the win, good to see our guys play that way, and how do we sustain it is the next question, but that’s what we’ll focus on.”
2. The past few games, Trae Young hadn’t quite looked like himself, only making one 3-pointer in the last three and shooting 33.3% from the field over the past five. He was back to being an offensive force in Monday’s win, though, hitting two deep threes in the first half, finishing with 26 points (9-19 FG, or 47.4%, 3-7 from 3, or 42.9%, 5-6 FT, or 83.3%), eight assists and zero turnovers. Young had three consecutive stellar assists toward the end of the second quarter, on two dunks to Clint Capela and a layup for Kevin Huerter, giving the Hawks a 61-46 lead.
“It felt good to actually get some shots going in,” Young said. “Had a really good warm-up today and just kind of carried it over to the game, and it felt good.”
3. The Hawks shot poorly from 3-point range in their two losses to the Hornets (averaging 23.95%), but looked much sharper from distance (17-for-44, or 38.6%) even with starters playing fewer minutes than they usually would, given how big their lead was (32 points entering the fourth quarter). John Collins went 4-for-7 from 3, Solomon Hill, Brandon Goodwin and Young went 3-for-7 and Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter, Nathan Knight and Kevin Huerter each added one. Six players finished in double figures: Young (26), Hunter (15), Goodwin (15 points), Clint Capela (12 points, with 11 rebounds for a double-double), Collins (12 points), and Reddish (10 points).
4. Joel Embiid’s career-high (49 points) came in a blowout win vs. the Hawks last February, and he’s the type of big, physical center that tends to give them trouble. That looked like it may be the case yet again, as Embiid had 16 points in the first quarter, but the Hawks double-teamed him more aggressively and limited him to eight points the rest of the game (24 total, to go with 11 rebounds).
Keeping Embiid at bay was crucial and allowed the Hawks to build up a lead and maintain it: “We knew with the situation going on that he was going to be a focal point for him, as he always is, but I think tonight a little bit more. Came out to a hot start; we saw how he was trying to score, and just tried to limit that, and I feel like we did a good job of just trying to take care of business on that end.”
5. Tony Snell made his Hawks debut after struggling with inflammation of the cuboid bone in his right foot since the summer. He was active in Saturday’s loss against Charlotte, too, but this was the first time he got in a game. Pierce had mentioned that Snell would have a minute restriction of 12-15 minutes, but would likely play far less as they ease him back. Snell ended up getting in for about seven minutes of garbage time in the fourth quarter and was scoreless, but was at least able to start getting a feel for things again, and his availability should help the Hawks as their injury report grows.
Stat of the game
37-18 (Hawks’ second-quarter advantage which turned a four-point deficit to a 15-point halftime lead.)
Star of the game
Young (led the team in scoring and assists and looked back to his old self shooting the ball)
Quotable
“I’m gonna let ‘em fly, especially when I have Ice setting me up like he did tonight. (Collins on leading the team with four 3’s and Young’s assists)
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